Posted By Rod Douglass
Deana,

Found this hope it helps.

Who does it affect?

Manufacturers, sellers, distributors and recylers of electrical and electronic equipment containing lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls or polybrominated diphenyl ethers. This Directive covers the same scope as the Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) except for medical devices and monitoring and control instruments. It also applies to electric light bulbs and light fittings in households.

Purpose

The Directive aims to:

protect human health and the environment by restricting the use of certain hazardous substances in new equipment; and
complement the WEEE Directive.

Key elements

From 1 July 2006 new electrical and electronic equipment must not contain lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). These must be replaced by other substances.
Certain applications are exempt from the requirements of the Directive including mercury in certain types of fluorescent lamps, lead in the glass of cathode ray tubes, electronic components and fluorescent tubes, lead in electronic ceramic parts and hexavalent chromium as an anti-corrosion of the carbon steel cooling system in absorption refrigerators. The exemptions will be reviewed every four years.
Before 13 February 2005 the European Commission will review the terms of the Directive to take into account any new scientific evidence.
Timescale

On 30 July 2004 the Government published a final consultation (including draft implementing legislation and non-statutory guidance) which will run until 29 October 2004. The Government expects to bring the Directive into effect through UK law later in the year.

Aye,

Rod D