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Laws and regulations governing use in products

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RoHS directive (EU): not regulated

  • RoHS 1 (2002/95/EC): effective July 1, 2006.
  • RoHS 2 (2011/65/EU): effective July 21, 2011.
    No changes were made in the list of restricted substances in the revised RoHS 2. (Cd, Cr6+, Hg, Pb, PBB, PBDE)
  • In June 2015, four phthalates were added to the list of restricted substances in the Official Journal, effective from July 2019.
  • The EU entrusted the Austrian environmental protection agency (AUBA) and Oeko-Institut in Germany for assessment of additional restricted substances, and according thereto, the assessment priority of beryllium copper alloy placed it in Category 3 or 4.
  • In February 2018, a research project on restricted substances of the RoHS directive (Pack 15) was announced, and Oeko Institut, entrusted by the European Commission, began assessing seven substances containing beryllium or beryllium compounds in relation to their restriction.
  • In September 26, 2019, Oeko-Institut released a report (draft) recommending exempting beryllium and beryllium compounds from RoHS restrictions.
  • While the final actions remain uncertain, it appears likely that the final report will be published soon and that the exemption will be officially granted.

ELV directive (EU): not regulated

  • ELV (2000/53/EC): effective October 21, 2000.
  • This directive seeks to reduce the environmental impact of end-of-life vehicles.
  • The directive restricted the use of the following substances in the parts and materials of vehicles introduced to the EU market on and after July 1, 2003: Cd, Cr6+, Hg, and Pb.
  • Environmental regulations governing end-of-life vehicles were first introduced about six years before the RoHS directive, which entered into force in July 2006.

Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources (Japan): not regulated

  • This law seeks to establish a recycling-oriented economic system through the following: (1) encouraging recycling (e.g., collecting products by business operators and promoting their reuse: Recycle); (2) reducing waste generation (e.g., producing products characterized by resource conservation and long life: Reduce); (3) reusing parts of collected products (Reuse).
  • This law applies to the following products:
    (1) Personal computers; (2) window-mounted air conditioners; (3) television sets; (4) refrigerators; (5) washing machines; (6) microwave ovens; and (7) clothes dryers.
  • The following six substances are subject to regulation; inclusion of any of these substances must be clearly indicated on products:
    Cd, Cr6+, Hg, Pb, PBB, PBDE