So yes, WEEE is part of the EU legislative initiative to solve the problem of huge amounts of toxic e-waste.
4. Are solar panels and wind turbines within the scope of RoHS?
Good question -- the answer keeps evolving. On June 2, 2010, windmills and solar panels were deemed "excluded" from a RoHS recast. Here's the thinking behind that decision: RoHS is primarily aimed at curbing the use of toxic chemicals in consumer goods, e.g., household electric and electronic goods. The European Parliament's environment committee amended a proposal on the recast Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS).
The hope of the recast was to widen the RoHS directive's scope from household appliances to all electrical and electronic devices, unless specifically excluded. But the prospect of a more open scope had made renewable energy producers anxious. Understandably, they were concerned about being subjected to legislation that the fossil fuel industry would not have to comply with, putting them at a competitive disadvantage. For more information on the specifics, we recommend www.euractiv.com.
Currently, solar-powered equipment is still considered to be within the scope of RoHS. It falls under one of the general categories. (The solar component within the equipment is considered exempt.) But, for example, a solar-powered calculator would be in scope of RoHS. Expect updates around this subject, though.
5. Should companies place a mark or seal on a product to show it complies with RoHS Regulations?
There is no obligation or standard marking to show RoHS compliance, but consider showing your compliance anyway to make everything easier for import/export and going-to-market. For compliance with the WEEE Directive, however, a ‘crossed out wheeled bin’ symbol must be used. Get extra help on that here: http://www.weeeregistration.com/ As far as a RoHS-approved "Certificate": there is a requirement in the UK that an EEE product ‘producer’ has documentation to demonstrate compliance. Therefore there is no expiry time or other prescribed approaches to the format of certificates.
Please read Annex D of this document.
6. Does packaging used for a product need to comply with RoHS regulations?
No. But yes. :) Any packaging that is discarded after purchase of the product is not considered to be part of the EEE and therefore does not fall within the scope of the RoHS regulations. However, compliance of a case or packaging that forms part of, or may stay with, the product and may be disposed of with the product may need to comply; this must be judged on a case by case basis. Think of a sticker commonly left on the bottom of a laptop, for instance. Or a special piece of packaging attractive to children that a child wants to keep.
Industry intelligence will advise that packaging suppliers and users be sensible: know what's in your packaging. Declare -- or be ready to declare -- anything that remotely smacks of cadmium, lead, mercury or the other three primary suspects in the RoHS case. Remember, suppliers can pass you cadmium in paint -- packaging companies and customers must be on top of their ingredients.
7. What are the rules regarding repairing a product placed on the market prior to 1st July 2006?
The RoHS Directive does not apply to spare parts for the repair, or reuse, of electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market before 1st July 2006. This is so that old equipment can be maintained with spare parts and to promote the reuse of old electrical and electronic equipment.
It is permissible to place on the market spare parts - containing the hazardous substances - for the repair of old equipment (if the latter was put on the market before 1st July 2006). But it is not permissible to repair new equipment (put on the market after 1st July 2006) with spare parts containing hazardous substances. The marketing of spare parts containing banned substances for the repair of new equipment would prolong the existence of hazardous substances in the waste stream and hamper efforts to increase recycling.
8. Are LEDs within the scope of RoHS?
No, but the product containing an LED is within the scope.
LEDs sold individually are considered to be components rather than an electrical product and therefore are not within the scope of RoHS. However, when being used as part of electrical equipment, LEDs do fall within scope and therefore should be compliant. For instance, an LED lamp is covered by the Directive. Starts to make sense, doesn't it.
If not, you may need to contact an expert -- or review the gory details yourself (see #10 below) but it isn't always pleasant reading and has a similar hue to the U.S. OSHA Federal Registers.
9. Can a company continue to manufacture items it was manufacturing before 1 July 2006 without modification?
No. Any item of electrical or electronic equipment covered by the RoHS scope that is placed on the EU market from 1 July 2006 will have to comply, regardless of whether it is one of a line of products that existed before that date. No grandfather clause, sorry.
10. Where can I find all the (more) gory details?
There is more information to be found on Wikipedia of course, and here and here:
RoHS Directive: http://www.rohs.gov.uk/Docs/Links/RoHS%20directive.pdf
WEEE Directive: http://www.rohs.gov.uk/Docs/Links/WEEE%20directive.pdf
(all images courtesy of photos8.com)
Overall, the list of chemical and product regulations affecting the electronics industry continues to grow in 2010. For some companies, compliance is for Corporate Social Responsibility, or "CSR," also known as "good PR." These regulations also effect consumers, that is, anyone looking to dispose of or recycle a device such as an iPhone or a pair of headphones or a vault full of high-tech servers and other hardware. Software tools for RoHS compliance include BOMtracker from Actio and similar, fledgling products from PTC.
