World Wide Regulations
It’s not just Europe that’s
stepping up activity in environmental regulations.
Currently, more than 10 countries outside the EU already
mandate take-back of WEEE – including Japan, South Korea and
Taiwan – and several of these are planning to introduce RoHS
laws within the next year. In contrast, few countries have
rules on air quality as stringent as those issued by the US
EPA.
At the US state level,
California has a form of WEEE legislation in
place and will bring in a RoHS rule in 2007; Maine already
has a RoHS advisory. RoHS-type
legislation has also been proposed in New Jersey, Texas,
Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Nova Scotia in Canada.
A number of states have passed or are debating legislation
that limits the use of mercury in products, including
vehicles.
China
Potentially the world’s largest electronics
market, China is on a fast track to adopt WEEE and RoHS
regulations that are likely to be more
demanding than their EU equivalents. According to an
article by
Design Chain Associates,
differences between the proposed China RoHS
law, which is expected to come into effect on January 1,
2007, and the EU legislation include:
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Unlike the EU
RoHS directive, which applies (like the WEEE rule)
primarily to producers, China’s RoHS law will apply to
suppliers as well.
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The exception
to the EU RoHS for electrical and electronic devices
that are part of larger equipment will not apply. When
the value of the device is more than 60% of the value of
the larger product, the whole product will be subject to
the Chinese RoHS law. When the device value is less
than 60% of the product value, just the device will be
subject to the regulation.
-
Medical
equipment will not be exempt from RoHS in China, as it
is at present in the EU.
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On compliance,
contrary to the
European approach of self-declaration, China’s RoHS law
will require testing of a product before it is allowed
into the country. And only testing by Chinese certified
labs will be acceptable.
Covered
products in China will have to show on the label or in the
product manual the “safe use” period, during which no
release of restricted substances would normally occur. |
