Brussels, 03/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is proposing to revise the directives on recycling electric and electronic equipment, as well as the limited use of dangerous substances in this equipment.
Adopted on 3 December by the College, the recasting proposal of the 2002/96/EC and /95/EC directives, both in force since 2004, aims to simplify provisions, cut down on wasteful red tape and rectify the difficulties confronting market actors and public authorities. It also aims to improve the compatibility of these directives with other legislative texts, such as the new framework directive on waste and the REACH regulation on the authorisation of chemical substances.
The Commission is proposing a clarification of the field of the application and definition of the two directives, higher and more flexible electric and electronic equipment collection and recycling objectives (the compulsory collection objective is 65% of average equipment weight on the market over the next two years in each member state). Registration and report obligations imposed on producers will be harmonised and national registers interoperable. Inspections of the illegal trade in this connection will be improved.
The draft revised directive on restricting dangerous substances will cover medial mechanisms and monitoring and control measures. The Commission is also proposing that a list of priority substances, which are of particular concern when used in this kind of equipment, is evaluated with regard to REACH regulation requirements, in view of a possible ban. (A.N./trans/rh)