Those who have been following my regular updates on the RoHS
recast will be interested to know that the European Parliament
has backed the first reading approval on the so called RoHS recast.
Environmental ministers are likely to support the deal when they meet in
RoHS will become an open scope, but not for eight years after the recast is published in the Official Journal of the EU. Restrictions on six substances will be, at that point, extended to all types of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) unless specifically excluded.
"Test Equipment" remains during 2014 with industrial test 2017.
Exemptions will include fixed industrial machinery, military and photovoltaic solar panels.
There was considerable compromise leading to disappointed Green groups who were looking for bans on further restricted substances such as brominated flame retardants and PVC. There was a mixed reaction from industry.
A list of 37 substances for priority assessment was dropped as was the proposed restriction on nanosilver and carbon nanotubes.
The new directive will enter into force 20 days after it is published in the Official Journal of the European Union (around March / April 2011). Member States will have 18 months to transpose into national law.
Meanwhile the WEEE recast is moving slowly with a second reading approval a possibility next year.
Directive Decoder
Gary Nevison, Head of Legislation at 
Subscribe to this blog's feed