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Inclusion of HBCDD, DEHP, BBP, DBP and additive use of TBBPA in annex IV of the Commission's recast proposal of the RoHS Directive PrefaceIn the European Union, the restriction of certain hazardous chemicals in electrical and electronic equipment is regulated in the Directive on Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment[1], the so-called RoHS Directive. As parts of the current recasting of the RoHS Directive, the European Commission has evaluated a number of substances for inclusion in the list of restricted substances in accordance with Article 6 of the Directive: “The Commission shall also study the need to adapt the list of substances of Article 4(1), on the basis of scientific facts and taking the precautionary principle into account, and present proposals to the European Parliament and Council for such adaptations, if appropriate.” The Commission has not proposed addition of other hazardous substances used in electrical and electronic equipment. The Commission's proposal for a re-cast of the Directive is currently (2009) negotiated among the Member States. In response to the Commission's proposal, Denmark finds it relevant to consider the proposal of the inclusion of the following five substances in Annex IV of the recast proposed by the Commission, rendering their respective use in electrical and electronic equipment restricted in the European Union:
Certain aspects relevant to the inclusion in the RoHS Directive of these substances were assessed by Öko-institut e.V. for the European Commission, DG Environment (Gross et al., 2008). The study included a review of the use of the substances, relevant legislation, human health and environmental risk assessments and information on disposal and recycling. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency has contracted with COWI A/S to supplement the existing assessment with the present assessment of socioeconomic impacts of the inclusion of these same substances under the RoHS Directive. This present assessment is primarily based on existing reports on the relevant substances and applications. Technical reports prepared for ECHA for the evaluation of the possible inclusion of HBCDD, DEHP, BBP and DBP in Annex XIV of REACH were included in the assessment. The study has been guided by a steering group consisting of Dorte Lerche, Lissie Jørgensen and Anette Ejersted, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, and Carsten Lassen and Jakob Maag, COWI A/S. This report was prepared by Jakob Maag, Ulla Kristine Brandt, Sonja Hagen Mikkelsen and Carsten Lassen (Project Manager), COWI A/S, Denmark. The study was conducted during a period from August to October 2009. [1] Directive 2002/95/EC of January 2003
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