European Parliament revises RoHS legislation

The vote – 640 in favour, three against and 12 abstentions – formalises MEPs' approval of an agreement recently reached with European Council on updating the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) legislation. The legislation was steered through the European Parliament by Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans, vice chair of the European Greens, who said: "The revised rules adopted today will help make electronic goods safer and reduce the release of hazardous substances into the environment. While we clearly would have preferred even stronger legislation, with explicit restrictions on new substances, the final compromise represents a clear improvement on the current situation." MEPs successfully argued for all electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to be covered by the rules, unless specifically excluded. While most domestic products are already covered by existing legislation, the rules mean some products will need to conform following a transition period of eight years. However, photovoltaic solar panels, fixed industrial machinery and military material are amongst the equipment that will remain outside the rules. The updated legislation will not immediately increase the current blacklist of six substances. The European Commission will however conduct a review three years after the legislation is published. And, at the insistence of MEPs, nanomaterials will come under further scientific scrutiny. Meanwhile, discussions continue between the European Parliament and the European Council to update to rules on managing Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).