Regulations governing the use of materials
The following regulations governing the use of materials are considered by the Zumtobel Group:
Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS)
EU Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, or RoHS for short, was published on 27 January 2003 and passed into law across the EU in July 2006.
The aim is to ban the use of toxic and polluting substances and components in electrical and electronic equipment and to accelerate the introduction of alternative products. To this end, certain threshold values for materials contained in products were laid down, such as:
- Cadmium: max. 0.01 percent by weight
- Lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE): max. 0.1 percent by weight for each
One exception given in the Directive is for the use of mercury in compact fluorescent lamps, where up to 5 mg per lamp is permissible.
The aim is to ban the use of toxic and polluting substances and components in electrical and electronic equipment and to accelerate the introduction of alternative products. To this end, certain threshold values for materials contained in products were laid down, such as:
- Cadmium: max. 0.01 percent by weight
- Lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE): max. 0.1 percent by weight for each
One exception given in the Directive is for the use of mercury in compact fluorescent lamps, where up to 5 mg per lamp is permissible.
EU Regulation on Chemicals (REACh)
EC Regulation No. 1907/2006, also known as REACh (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) is the European legislation governing the use of chemicals. It came into force across the EU on 1 June 2007. REACh covers all chemical substances, regardless of whether or not they have harmful properties.
All chemical substances of which more than one metric ton per year and manufacturer or importer are produced or imported must be registered and evaluated. Every manufacturer or importer who wishes to place such substances on the market must, since 1 December 2008, have their own registration number for all such substances. Before then an interim ruling was in place.
One special feature of REACh is that it also governs the exchange of information along the supply chain. Not only must suppliers provide information about each substance to their customers; the customers must also provide their suppliers with the information they require for registration purposes (above all regarding the intended uses).
All chemical substances of which more than one metric ton per year and manufacturer or importer are produced or imported must be registered and evaluated. Every manufacturer or importer who wishes to place such substances on the market must, since 1 December 2008, have their own registration number for all such substances. Before then an interim ruling was in place.
One special feature of REACh is that it also governs the exchange of information along the supply chain. Not only must suppliers provide information about each substance to their customers; the customers must also provide their suppliers with the information they require for registration purposes (above all regarding the intended uses).
Directive on the take-back and recycling/disposal of waste batteries and accumulators
Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 September 2006 on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators passed into law across the EU in 2008.
This Directive established rules prohibiting the placing on the market of certain batteries and accumulators in which the mercury content (0.0005 percent by weight) or cadmium content (0.002 percent by weight) exceeds a specific limit value. The Directive also aims to promote a high collection and recycling quota for waste batteries and better environmental performance during all phases of the life cycle of batteries and accumulators, all the way to recycling.
This Directive established rules prohibiting the placing on the market of certain batteries and accumulators in which the mercury content (0.0005 percent by weight) or cadmium content (0.002 percent by weight) exceeds a specific limit value. The Directive also aims to promote a high collection and recycling quota for waste batteries and better environmental performance during all phases of the life cycle of batteries and accumulators, all the way to recycling.