WEEE producer responsibility (EPR)-.
Obligations for manufacturers, distributors and online retailers.
Legally compliant with WEEE and ECOLOGICON.A WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU - at least 27 national regulations in Europe
The European WEEE Directive states that all EU member states with national regulations must establish uniform rules for the handling of electrical and electronic equipment, e.g. to oblige manufacturers to assume product responsibility for the entire life cycle of the product. In the European Directive on the placing on the market, taking back and environmentally sound disposal of electrical and electronic equipment, the European Union defines the associated extended producer responsibility (EPR - Extended Producer Responsibility).
On the basis of this legal foundation, the polluter-pays principle and product stewardship, among other things, place responsibility and a wide range of obligations on manufacturers, retailers and distributors, such as taking back and disposing of old electrical equipment in an environmentally sound manner.
WEEE-EPR - Are you a first distributor of electrical equipment?
WEEE-EPR - Are you a first distributor of electrical equipment?
What does the national implementation of the directive (ElektroG) oblige me to do?
The European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive ( WEEE Directive–
W
aste of Electricaland Electronic Equipment) regulates the placing on the market, return and environmentally sound disposal of electrical and electronic equipment (in Germany: Elektrogesetz, or ElektroG for short).
The law obligates various legally defined actors to be product responsible and to comply with and implement a variety of tasks and duties, such as:
- Producers / manufacturers of electrical equipment
- Importers of electrical equipment
- Online (dealer) of electrical appliances
- Distributor of electrical equipment
- Wholesaler or retailer of electrical appliances
- Public waste disposers and primary treatment facilities
- Take-back systems for electrical appliances
Operators of electronic marketplaces as well as fulfillment service providers in the area of electrical or electronic equipment are also no longer exempt from new obligations in some EU states and prospectively EU-wide and are required to verify registration documents.
In the event of non-compliance, there is the threat of administrative offence proceedings and severe fines, e.g. in Germany of up to €100,000 for all actors who do not comply with the legal obligations in an orderly manner.
Don’t miss out on your legal obligations in the respective EU countries and get in touch now to be informed about the obligations in the respective sales markets and to implement them safely.
If you are a legal actor in the scope of electrical and electronic equipment, learn more about your obligations here:
Electronic and electrical equipment -
What is it and what to consider?
Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) as defined by the WEEE Directive is equipment designed to operate on AC voltage not exceeding 1,000 volts or DC voltage not exceeding 1,500 volts and which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields for its proper operation.
This also includes devices used for the generation, transmission and measurement of electric currents and electromagnetic fields.
Every electrical appliance that falls within the scope of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) can be assigned to one of the 6 categories shown below (Figure).
There are myriad details and interpretations to consider in order to properly capture the obligation. Contact us now to not only stay up to date on all changes to the topic of electrical and waste electrical equipment (ElektroG), but also to ensure legally compliant fulfillment of your obligations.
Our services -
License electrical equipment (EEE), collect, dispose and recycle electronic waste (WEEE).
- Individual consulting approach for the identification and implementation of your obligations from the applicable regulations
- Supply chain analysis to identify obligations
- Collection and disposal (take-back as well as recycling) of old equipment by qualified primary treatment facilities
- Perception of the obligation to notify or register collective systems.
- Information requirements and labeling
- Assumption of all administrative tasks
- Full-service provider of insolvency-proof guarantees, collection coordination and take-back concepts (for B2B equipment and distributors)
- Timely reporting of sales figures including the annual volume flow statement for returns and their recovery rates
- Support for international obligations arising from regulations in other European countries
We offer you:
- A direct contact as a personal contact person
- Fulfillment of all obligations Europe-wide
Benefit from our Europe-wide and global networks and expertise.
Our network solutions for Europe -
from one source
National implementations of the WEEE Directive (Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment) lead to many differences in legislation and its implementation that need to be considered.
Do you export to other European countries? Whether for electrical appliances, batteries / accumulators or the packaging of your products – we support you with our network solution in your sales countries so that you have the WEEE directive under control.
If you are affected by these obligations, we can guide you through the implementation process by showing you the requirements step by step and supporting you in introducing necessary measures and processes to comply with the laws and regulations.
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FAQ battery and accumulator
Your questions - our answers
Which EU directive regulates the handling of WEEE?
The handling of electrical (old) equipment is regulated by Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and Council of 04 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment. As a support and measure of the Fifth Action Program for Environmental Protection of the European Union, this Directive has been adopted.
The objective of the WEEE Directive is to support the reduction of waste of natural resources and prevention of environmental pollution.
This Directive replaced Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), which had been in force until then.
Who is affected?
Manufacturers, importers and distributors of electrical and electronic equipment) who place electrical equipment on the market for the first time on a commercial basis are considered to be so-called initial distributors.
According to this directive, a manufacturer is any natural or legal person who places products on the market in an EU member state. This can be the manufacturer of the products, but also the reseller, regardless of whether the reseller is established in the respective EU member state or distributes the products from a third country.
Which electrical and electronic equipment is affected?
Whether the company’s products are affected as electrical equipment by the producer obligation of the WEEE Directive depends, among other things, on the characteristics of the respective product, as well as its application. It must be evaluated whether the respective product (electrical appliance) falls within the scope.
What are the obligations?
In all countries of the EU, you are already obliged to extensively label your electrical appliances. In addition, we can advise you on producer responsibility in all EU member states where you have to fulfill further obligations and support and advise you on registration, notification, information obligations and all administrative steps.
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Documents and Important Legal Bases
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