DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2008/093)
issued by The Government News Network on 12 May 2008
BERR will publish
today a second consultation document relating to implementation of
the EU Batteries Directive, this time covering just its Internal
Market provisions.
The consultation includes draft Regulations to transpose the
Internal Market provisions of the Directive into UK law that set
out the requirements for placing new batteries and accumulators
(rechargeable batteries), and appliances containing batteries, on
the EU market, including the UK. These will be effective from 26
September 2008.
The draft Regulations cover restrictions on the use of specific
hazardous substances in the manufacture of new batteries and
accumulators as well as labelling and marking requirements. Spent
batteries will also need to be readily removable from appliances,
unless safety or certain other considerations apply.
More specifically:
* The composition of new batteries and accumulators - the levels
of mercury and cadmium used in their manufacturing are restricted;
for example, portable batteries containing more than trace amounts
of cadmium may not be placed on the market from 26 September this
year, unless they are used in certain exempt appliances, such as
cordless power tools.
* Labelling requirements - including the 'crossed out
wheeled-bin' and the appropriate 'chemical symbol'
to encourage end-users to separate spent batteries for collection
and aid subsequent recycling.
* The removal of spent batteries from appliances - manufacturers
will be required to design appliances in such a way that waste
batteries and accumulators can be readily removed.
Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks, said:
"These regulations will see that there is a limit to the use
of hazardous substances in the manufacture of batteries, reducing
their potential to harm human health and the environment as well
as aiding recycling and the recovery of valuable resources.
"All businesses and persons involved in placing new
batteries on the EU market need to be aware of these forthcoming
changes. A broad range of interested parties responded to our
previous consultation on the approach to implementing the
Directive, and we are keen to hear from them again on this draft legislation."
The regulations will apply to all batteries - no matter their
type or where they are manufactured, whether in the UK, the EU or
imported into the EU from a third country. New batteries and
accumulators that do not meet the requirements cannot be placed on
the EU market on or after 26 September of this year.
Notes to editors
1. The EU's Directive on Batteries and Accumulators and
Waste Batteries and Accumulators (2006/66/EC) aims to reduce the
environmental impact of portable, automotive and industrial
batteries by increasing recycling and greening the supply chain
that producers and distributes them. It applies to all types of
batteries regardless of shape, volume, weight, material
composition or use, except for military applications and space applications.
2. Member States are required to transpose the Directive into
national law by 26 September 2008. BERR takes the lead on Internal
Market provisions and also leads on policy relating to industrial
and automotive batteries, while DEFRA leads on household
batteries. Both departments have worked closely with colleagues in
the Devolved Administration and continue to do so as policy is
taken forward.
3. The Government is currently analysing responses from the
initial consultation relevant to the waste provisions of the
Directive, which ended on 13 March 2008 and will publish a
Government response shortly. The Government will then bring
forward draft Regulations and a further consultation document in
the summer to implement the remaining provisions of the Directive
(consultation document and draft Regulations for implementing the
collection, treatment and recycling provisions of the Directive).
4. The consultation has been developed in close partnership with
Defra and the Devolved Administrations and follows an initial
consultation (URN 07/1701) on options for implementing the
Batteries Directive that ran between December 2007 and March 2008.
5. Further details are available at:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/index.html
6. The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
helps UK business succeed in an increasingly competitive world. It
promotes business growth and a strong enterprise economy, leads
the better regulation agenda and champions free and fair markets.
It is the shareholder in a number of Government-owned assets and
it works to secure, clean and competitively priced energy supplies
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory
Reform
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