Directive Decoder

A new Batteries Directive will come into force on September 26 this year.
The Directive will restrict the use of mercury and cadmium in batteries. The mercury restriction is unchanged from the 1991 Battery Directive but the cadmium restriction is new.

• Mercury in batteries except button cells: Maximum of 0.0005% mercury by weight of battery
• Mercury in button cells: Maximum of 2% mercury by weight of battery
• Cadmium in batteries: Maximum of 0.002% cadmium by weight of battery but
with three exemptions -
o Emergency and alarm systems including emergency lighting
o Medical equipment
o Cordless power tools (this exclusion will be reviewed by September 2010 and may be withdrawn)

Note that there is no restriction on lead in batteries but if present at > 0.004% by weight the battery must be labelled with “Pb”.

Directive Decoder

Norway has proposed to restrict 18 substances in anything intended for “consumers” or products that can reasonably be expected to be used by them.

This includes such as clothing, bags, toys etc but does not apply to food products, food packaging, medical equipment, fertilisers, tobacco as well as means of transport and associated products such as tyres.

To offer clarity over so called Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and when notification is required.

Notification of SVHC when present in articles: Article 7 of REACH details the criteria under which a SVHC would need to be notified to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) if it is present in an article (product). In summary, notification would be required if:
(a) the substance is present in those articles in quantities totalling over 1 tonne per producer or importer per year, and;
(b) the substance is present in those articles above a concentration of 0.1 % weight by weight (of article).

Designers continue to face problems with lead-free soldering, as well as safeguarding RoHS compliance. One well respected lead-free training house is still witnessing the following customer issues:

Major problems (as expected) with component stocks
o Segregation of stock (mixed up)
o Compliance - “change the label, no one will notice”
o Confirmation of compliance – “can the source be trusted?”

Production based issues
o Hidden stocks of lead based solder used in rework – “I will just keep this roll to do those odd jobs”
o Temperature profiles on wave and reflow – “this new stuff does not work on our (old ) profiles”
o PCB issues plating / finishes – there is a need to apply stock rotation and understand new metallurgy.
o Components melting – such as connectors
o Problems with the tip life when hand soldering
o Re-training of hand soldering skills and good soldering practice. Need to go back to basic soldering skills, i.e. leave tip well tinned when not in use, use correct size of tip. Use brass wire wipers with moderation.

The Oko Institut, based in Germany, and who is carrying out the review of additional RoHS substances for the European Commission (EC), has published a list of 46 substances, plus all brominated flame retardants, that are now subject to stakeholder consultation.

However, there is limited time to reply as their draft final report is due by the end of April. Before this time all technical issues need to be considered. At present, there is no appeals procedure expected against Oko’s recommendations.

Oko will also consider whether or not it is more appropriate to restrict substances under the REACH Regulations as REACH is based on risk assessment whereas RoHS is focussed on hazard. Both can restrict substances in equipment.

The European Union (EU) adopted the “Batteries Directive” (91/157/EC) in March 1991. This introduced restrictions on the use of mercury in most batteries and encouraged collection and recycling. However, the objectives of this Directive have not been achieved as most portable batteries are still being sent to landfill.

As a result, the EU has introduced a new directive (2006/66/EC) that will come into force on 26 September 2008, and repeal the existing directive on the same day.

For more information:
http://uk.farnell.com/images/en_UK/pdf/batteries_new_directive.pdf

Directive Decoder