From: "Saved by Internet Explorer 11" Subject: WEEE directive: What EU electronics importers must know Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2016 09:07:14 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_003A_01D23A68.A9A3A690" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_003A_01D23A68.A9A3A690 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.globalsources.com/NEWS/SIC-weee-directive-what-eu-electronics-importers-must-know.HTM =EF=BB=BF
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Path: Sourcing News & = Advice=20 >> Smart=20 Sourcing >> WEEE=20 directive: What EU electronics importers must know
by Fredrik Gronkvist
Unlike RoHS, which restricts usage of heavy metals = in=20 electronics, the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) = directive has=20 several elements, each having an on electronics importers in the EU. = Among there=20 are recycling contribution schemes, dismantling design requirements, and = labelling requirements. We will get back to those in a bit, but first = you might=20 want to know which product categories are within the scope of = regulation.
CATEGORY |
EXAMPLES |
Large household appliances |
Refrigerators, Freezers, Washing = Machines,=20 Electric Stoves, Microwaves, Heating Appliances |
Small household appliances |
Vacuum cleaners, toasters, irons, sewing = machines,=20 watches and clocks |
IT & Telecom |
Printers, Laptop Computers, Phones, = Tablet=20 Computers, Fax Machines |
Consumer equipment |
Radios, TV sets, Video Cameras and = recorders,=20 Audio Equipment, Musical Instruments, Other Displays |
Lighting equipment |
Lamps, Bulb Lights |
Electronic tools |
Saws, Welding Machinery, Drills, Cutting = Machinery, Gardening Tools |
Toys, leisure and sports |
Video game consoles and accessories, = Electric=20 sports equipment, Electric toys |
Medical devices |
Laboratory equipment, Radiotherapy=20 equipment |
As hinted by the table above, if your business is importing = electronics=20 within the EU, the WEEE directive is having an impact on your business. = However,=20 note that the table above is not listing all categories, or products, = within its=20 scope of regulations. For a more comprehensive list, click here.
The design for dismantling (also known as design for recycling, or = design=20 for disassembly) includes the practices to optimize the way how a = product will=20 be treated at end of life, and to optimize the separation of components = and=20 materials for their recovery (repair, recycling, energy recovery). The = design=20 for dismantling applies equally to a product to be disassembled as for = products=20 intended to undergo a grinding step.
Considerations are particularly related to choice and combination = of=20 different materials that compose a product but also to the assembly and=20 mechanical connections between components and subassemblies of the = product. Source
The WEEE directive requires products to be designed in a way that = simplifies=20 the dismantling, for either recycling or further usage. As WEEE covers = such a=20 large number of products, there are, at least as of today, no technical=20 requirements applicable to each product. As such, it=E2=80=99s up to the = "producer"=20 (i.e., the importing company, when the supplier is located outside of = the EU) to=20 ensure that the product is designed in compliance. For example, this may = include=20 the following:
For startups and small businesses, lacking the technical capability, = or=20 budget, to develop OEM products, or at least modify an existing factory design, this poses a major = challenge.=20 My best advice for this group of buyers is to make a compliance = assessment based=20 on factory samples. However, most Chinese electronics manufacturers are, = for natural=20 reasons, not concerned with ensuring said design compliance. As always, = Western=20 buyers must strictly limit their supplier selection to those with an = existing=20 compliance track record.
Take a good look at your phone or laptop charger. The WEEE symbol, as = seen on=20 the right, indicates separate collection and recycling. The WEEE mark is = mandatory for most electronics, imported and sold within the EU.
The WEEE mark must be clearly visible on the product itself, and its=20 packaging, unless this is deemed to be impractical. Also note that the = WEEE mark=20 is not a replacement for a CE mark, which indicates compliance with all = other,=20 applicable, EN directives.
When buying from China, never leave the product labelling in the = hands of the=20 manufacturers. Provide all graphics files, including labels, directly to = the=20 supplier, rather than making the assumption that they'll 'get it right'. = After=20 all, your business is taking the heat if the products turn out to be improperly labelled
In addition to dismantling design and labelling requirements, the = WEEE=20 directive also sets yearly =E2=80=98recycling contribution=E2=80=99 = requirements, for importers=20 and distributors. In practice, this means that your company must pay its = fair=20 share to finance the recycling network, on a yearly basis. These = recycling fees=20 are based on yearly sales volume, usually counted in tons.
There are certain limitations though. For example, in the United =
Kingdom, the=20
yearly contribution only applies to companies with yearly sales volumes=20
equivalent of at least 5 tonnes:
A small producer must join a PCS=20
(producer compliance scheme) within 28 days of placing more than 5 =
tonnes of EEE=20
on the market in any compliance period.
What I must also mention at this point, is that the WEEE Directive is = implemented individually by each EU member state, according to its own = =E2=80=98national=20 producer compliance scheme=E2=80=99. As such, the implementation may = differ, to a=20 varying degree, between different EU member states.
Fredrik Gr=C3=B6nkvist is the co-founder of ScandinAsian = Enterprise in=20 Shanghai. Since 2010, he and his team have helped hundreds of companies=20 worldwide, primarily in the EU and US, to develop and manufacture = products in=20 China. He is also the main contributor on http://www.chinaimportal.com/,= =20 a leading knowledge base for small- to medium-sized enterprises = importing from=20 Asia. For further questions, you can contact him on www.chinaimportal.com/c= ontact-us/
Read more Sourcing=20 News & Advice