Revision of the Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

22.12.2011
Note: This text is from the archive.
Published on:
Sequence number: No. 168/11
Topic: Energy Efficiency
Publisher: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety
Minister: Norbert Röttgen
Term of office: 28.10.2009 - 22.05.2012
17th Leg. period: 28.10.2009 - 17.12.2013
Agreement reached in Brussels

Agreement reached in Brussels

After prolonged negotiations, the Permanent Representatives Committee yesterday reached agreement on the revision of the WEEE Directive (WEEE = Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). With two abstentions, the majority of ambassadors from the Member States approved a compromise text negotiated with the European Commission and the Parliament. The European Parliament was informed of the outcome of the vote on the same day. The way is now clear for the Directive to be adopted at the second reading. The European Parliament is expected to vote on the compromise text on 18 January 2012.

The recast is primarily intended to increase collection and recycling targets for waste electrical and electronic equipment and curb illegal exports. Manufacturers and importers will benefit from considerable streamlining of the European registration procedure which is required prior to placing electronic equipment on the market. Moreover, all electrical and electronic devices will be covered by the Directive in future. To combat illegal shipment of waste equipment more effectively, minimum standards are being laid down, including criteria for differentiating between used and waste equipment. The new Directive reverses the burden of proof, meaning that it will now be the responsibility of the exporters to prove that used equipment is still functioning.

Once it has entered into force the Directive will be transposed into German law through an amendment to the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG).

22.12.2011 | Press release No. 168/11 | Energy Efficiency
https://www.bmuv.de/PM5039-1
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