Tougher electrical regulations on the way

The Department for Business (DBERR)has published a consultation on EC proposals to recast the Directives on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the Restriction on the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment. The proposals follow the EC's review of both the Directives. On WEEE, a major proposal is to increase the amounts of electric and electronic waste that are separately collected and recycled, while the proposals on RoHS aim for a higher level of environmental protection by revising the scope of the restrictions and the substances they apply to. Commenting on the proposals a DBERR spokesperson said: "The UK welcomes the Commission's intention to strengthen the Directives, with further steps to limit the environmental impact of waste equipment. However, we are concerned that the WEEE proposals in particular do present some significant challenges for British businesses. "Our consultation paper will give the electronics and ICT industries, the waste management sector, consumers and other interested parties the opportunity to inform the UK government's understanding of the impact the changes will have, ahead of the formal negotiations in Brussels." Responses to the consultation are sought by 13 May 2009.