ROHS & WEEE
ROHS and WEEE according to the Law of electrical and electronic devices (ElektroG)
The law ElektroG is about to control the nonpolluting disposal of electrical and electronic goods and came into force at the beginning of the year 2005.
The ROHS ("Reduction of Hazardous Substances", 2011/65/EU) deals with the ban of 6 substances within electronic components and product. The deadline for this is the 1st of July 2006. The banned substances are namely: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybromated Biphenyls and polybromated diphenyl ethers. One of the most important consequences of this Directive is the fact that soldering often ask for high-temperature resistant substances (e.g. plastic), as the lead-substitutes for soldering often require a higher temperature.
The WEEE ("Waste electrical and electronic Equipment", 2012/19/EU) deals with the pickup and recycling of certain products and devices within the EU and pushes the responsibility of the manufacturer (which may also be an importer!) to new limits. In the future, a standardized symbol shows the end-consumer, that these products are not to be thrown away to the domestic waste, but have to be collected at local collecting points. The waste will then be collected by the manufacturers directly, after they?ll be informed by an authority that each member state has to set up. This authority will be responsible for the organisation of the WEEE.
2direct and ROHS, WEEE
Within Germany, the registration to meet the WEEE is obligation until the 24th of November. From 24th of March on, the products have to be marked. Other member states of the EU have other deadlines. First alignments to pick up goods are supposed to reach the manufacturers within 2006. 2direct has registered in time, their registration number at the EAR (German authority for the WEEE) is WEEE-reg.-no. DE81077960.
In collaboration with its suppliers, 2direct GmbH is implementing the requirements of the RoHS Directive. All products imported and placed in the market for the first time later than July, 01st 2006 are RoHS conform.
Further information
The detailed lawful rules and all modifications can be found on the webpage of the EAR, foundation of Elektro Altgeräte Register, whose current version has validity.