Directive Decoder

For an expert webinar check out "Export Controls within the EU" which is live on 6th March at 2PM.

Subject expert Trevor Wood looks at reasons behind having export controls, who makes the decisions behind the controls, which items are controlled and how, as well as other issues.

For simple registration follow the link:

Free Export Controls within the EU webinar

Directive Decoder

The European Chemicals Agency ECHA has stated that the target, set by the European Commission, of having 136 Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) on the Candidate List by the end of 2012 is likely to be missed.

Currently there are 73 substances on the list but only 13 proposals expected to go forward for consultation around the end of February.

ECHA expects the number to be nearer the 100 mark by the end of the year.

Farnell has collected REACH information on around half a million products and found that approximately 0.5% of them contained an SVHC.

Directive Decoder

The European Commission has begun its work on the RoHS impact study being carried out on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive (2011/65/EU)  in electrical and electronic equipment.

As part of this review the product scope is expected to be widened, including new product categories that were previously excluded. Examples would include:

Category 7-toys leisure and sports equipment now includes "toys with minor electrical function" such as talking teddy bears.

Many of you will remember the original RoHS Frequently Ask Questions document that was published several years ago by the European Commission.

The RoHS Recast (RoHS2) FAQ document will seek to address many questions including, no doubt, the subject of CE mark requirements.

According to BIS Officials it should be available around June time and could well be a must not miss document.

 Directive Decoder

Since 2006 there have been many unofficial RoHS symbols highlighting compliance.

From RoHS compliant, to lead-free to Pb-free, probably because there was no official symbol for European RoHS.

However, the RoHS Recast Directive 2011/65/EU dismisses all of those ad-hoc symbols in favour of the simple CE mark to demonstrate compliance.

Directive Decoder

Under the RoHS Recast the scope has changed from products that depend on electronic currents or electromagnetic fields to work properly and  now reads to fulfil at least one intended function.

However, under the WEEE Recast the definition remains unchanged.

Directive Decoder

One of the requirements of the EU Batteries and Accumulators Directive 2006/66/EC was the need for Producers to ensure that any automotive or portable batteries, placed on the market, should display a capacity label by 26 September 2009.

BIS recently confirmed that this deadline had been extended and producers of rechargeable portable batteries and automotive batteries must display a capacity marking by 31 May 2012.

Batteries placed on the market prior to this date do not have to be removed from sale and single use portable batteries are not included within the scope of this requirement.

European regulation number 1103/2010 was published on 29 November 2010 and covers producer requirements, exemptions, standards for measuring capacity, what information should be contained on the label and its minimum size and location.

The requirements will be enforced by the National Measurement Office (NMO).

It will be interesting to see which battery manufacturers, if any, will gain or lose market share.

Directive Decoder