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Impact assessment of introduction of a general scope of the RoHS Directive – selected aspects

Title:
Impact assessment of introduction of a general scope of the RoHS Directive – selected aspects

Key Subjects:
Impact Assessment, Electric and electronic equipment, RoHS Directive, General scope, Binding Lists

Key Subjects in Danish:
Konsekvensvurdering, Elektrisk og elektronisk udstyr, RoHS Direktivet, Generelt anvendelsesområde, Lukkede produktlister

Abstract:
In the proposal for the recast of the current RoHS Directive the European Commission has introduced two new annexes describing the scope of the Directive. The first annex describes broad product categories and the second provides binding product lists within each product category.

An alternative definition of scope could be a general scope based on a definition of electric and electronic equipment (EEE).

By introducing a general scope a number of product groups would change status from being outside the scope to being inside. Compared to the binding list of the Commission’s proposal, 77 product groups have been identified that might change status. The products are mainly large and small household appliances, electrical and electronic tools and toys and leisure and sports equipment. For most of the products the market volumes are significant, however the total turnover of the equipment in is only in the range of a few percent of the total turnover of EEE.

Areas not addressed in this study are 1) equipment for the protection of the essential interests of the security of Member States; 2) large-scale stationary industrial tools; 3) transport equipment, 4) aerospace applications; 5) equipment designed for “fixed installations”; and 6) equipment which is not intended to be placed on the market as a single functional or commercial unit.

For eight selected product categories (representing about 50 of the identified product groups) an assessment has been made of the consequences of introduction of a general scope. It has been assessed, at a screening level, whether the costs could be expected to be relatively high or/and the benefits relatively small.

Apart from a few specific applications there is no indication that it should be particularly difficult to replace the RoHS substances in the assessed products.

For veterinary equipment there may be a need for an extended transition period as for medical equipment. Further, photovoltaic cells based on CdTe would need an exemption assessment.

For EE toys without motors and furniture with light, where the EE parts takes up a limited portion of the products the administrative costs of including these products is deemed to be relatively high. A number of similar product groups have been identified, but not assessed further. These include clothing and footwear with EE components, fun and joke equipment and ornaments with EE components, electric toilets and shower heads and mirrors with light.

Abstract in Danish:
I forslaget til omarbejdningen af det nuværende RoHS Direktiv har den Europæiske Kommission introduceret to nye bilag, der beskriver direktivets anvendelsesområde. Det første bilag beskriver brede produktkategorier mens det andet bilag indeholder udtømmende produktlister til hver produktkategori.

En alternativ definition af anvendelsesområdet kunne være baseret på en generel definition af elektrisk og elektronisk udstyr (EEU).

Indføres et generelt anvendelsesområde vil en række produktgrupper skifte status fra at være uden for anvendelsesområdet til at være indenfor. Sammenlignet med de udtømmende lister i Kommissionens forslag vil 77 produktgrupper muligvis skifte status. Det drejer sig om små husholdningsapparater, EE værktøj, sports- og fritidsudstyr. For de fleste produkter er der tale om signifikante markedsandele, selvom den totale omsætning kun er nogle få procent af den samlede omsætning for EEU.

Nærværende projekt har dog ikke set på 1) Udstyr til beskyttelse af Medlemslandenes sikkerhed; 2) stort stationært industriel værkstøj; 3) Transportmidler; 4) Rum-udstyr; 5) udstyr designet til ”fikserede installationer”; og 6) udstyr som ikke er beregnet til at blive markedsført som en enkel funktionel eller kommerciel enhed.

For otte udvalgte produktkategorier (som repræsenterer ca. 50 af de identificerede kategorier) er der lavet en vurdering af konsekvenserne ved at indføre et generelt anvendelsesområde. Det er blevet vurderet (på screeningsniveau) om omkostningerne kan forventes at være relativt høje og/eller om fordelene er relativt små.

Bortset fra nogle få specifikke anvendelser er der ingen indikation af at det skulle være specielt svært at erstatte ”RoHS-stofferne” i de udvalgte produkter.

For veterinært udstyr er der muligvis brug for en overgangsperiode, i stil med den der er for medicinsk udstyr. Herudover skal det vurderes om CdTe i solceller skal have en speciel undtagelse.

For EE legetøj uden motorer og møbler med lys, vil de administrative omkostninger ved at de optages i direktivet være relativ høj. En række lignende produkter er identificeret, men ikke videre undersøgt. Det drejer sig om tøj og sko med EE komponenter, elektriske WC og brusehoveder og spejle med lys.

Series title and no.:
Environmental Project No. 1316, 2010

Publisher:
Danish Environmental Protection Agency

Performing organization(s):
Danish Environmental Protection Agency

Copyright:
Danish Environmental Protection Agency

Creators:
Carsten Lassen,
Ulla Kristine Brandt
and Jakob Maag

Contributor:
Rosendahls - Schultz Grafisk (Digital edition)

Language:
eng

URL:
http://www.mst.dk/

ISBN no. HTML version:
978-87-92617-50-7

ISBN no. PDF version:
978-87-92617-51-4

Version:
1.0

Version/edition:
2010-04-12

Data formats:
html, gif, pdf, css

Inventory:
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Publisher category:
statslig