The "Elektrogesetz"

Contents

   • Obligations and Deadlines
      – Registration
      – Reporting
      – Labeling
      – Recovery of WEEE
      – Product Design
      – Avoiding of Hazardous Substances
      – Information
      – Recovery Rates

Producers, as identified by the "Elektrogesetz", have to consider a number of obligations and deadlines:

As from November, 24 2005 all producers together with their types of equipment and the appropriate brand names must be registered at EAR. The handling of B2C products (consumer goods) and B2B products (investment goods) is different:

Producers of B2C equipment are obliged to participate in the public WEEE collection system. In addition a guarantee for the event of insolvency must be provided for the difference of all B2C products put on the market and the amount of recovered weight mass.

For the classification of electrical or electronical equipment as B2B products the producer has to plausibly document that those devices cannot or is usually not used in private households. He can then define his own recovery solution together with the (usually) commercial clients.

The producer also has to state the identification number he received during the registration process in all business transactions.

As of November, 24 2005 all registered producers have to report the input mass (weight of the equipment they put on the market) on a monthly basis (B2C) respectively on a yearly basis (B2B). The report interval can be extended upon request by EAR.

As of March, 24 2006 with the start of the complete recovery system also the output mass (weight of the recovered equipment by the producer) has to be reported to EAR. The deadline for this is April, 30th of each year following the preceding calendar year.

Equipment which is put on the market after August, 13 2005 has to be labeled as from March 24, 2006, to enable the identification of the original producer. For B2C products the crossed-out wheeled-bin has to be used.

On the basis of the difference between the amount of equipment put on the market and recovered the national clearing house starts on March 24, 2006 to determine those producers who have to collect a full container of WEEE at the municipal collection points. The collection and recovery has to be reported to EAR. In addition an empty container must be provided by the producer at the collection point.

The design of all electrical and electronic products designed and put on the market after August 13, 2005 should provide for an easy disassembly and recovery by the treatment facility.

As of July, 1 2006 new electrical and electronic equipment must not excceed certain limits for the use of hazardous substances, as specified in Section 5, ElektroG.

As of March, 24 2006 the producers must inform consumers about a possible recovery, the background of the "Elektrogesetz" and the meaning of the symbol (crossed-out wheeled-bin). At the latest one year after a product was put on the market for the first time (after March 24, 2006) the producer must provide suitable information (e.g. recycling pass) for treatment facilities to allow for an optimal recycling.

Specific recovery rates have to be reached by the producers for the recovery of electrical and electronic equipment after December, 31 2006. The actual rate depends on the equipment type and is subject to modification in the coming years.