Batteries Regulations enforcement body named

NWML will have an important role to play in ensuring that anyone wishing to place batteries on the UK market complies with this legislation

 
Ian Pearson, BERR

The agency will be responsible for enforcing the 'Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the market) Regulations 2008', which were introduced on September 26, 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story).

As a result, the body, which has been the enforcement agency for the RoHS Regulations relating to the use of hazardous substances in electrical equipment since July 2006, will be charged with ensuring battery producers adhere to restrictions on the use of mercury and cadmium in new batteries.

It will also ensure that new batteries placed on the market are compliant with regulations for labelling to aid recycling and new appliances are designed in such a way that waste batteries can be easily removed and recycled.

Commenting on the appointment of the National Weights and Measurements Laboratory (NWML), business minister Ian Pearson said: “Building on their experience and success in enforcing similar environmental product legislation, NWML will have an important role to play in ensuring that anyone wishing to place batteries on the UK market complies with this legislation.”

Recycling

While the Regulations and system are now fully in place with regards placing batteries on the market, the system that will be used to ensure producers meet their responsibilities, under the EU Batteries Directive, for collecting, recycling and treating waste batteries is yet to be introduced.

A joint BERR and Defra consultation on draft regulations for battery collection and treatment, which was launched just before Christmas (see letsrecycle.com story), runs until February 13, 2009.

And, ahead of the final introduction of those regulations, the Environment Agency has urged producers to be aware of their responsibilities under the Directive, and to prepare accordingly.

The Agency has said it now expects October 2009 to be the deadline for producers to join a Batteries Compliance Scheme and to begin providing the sales data that their obligation will be based on.

As a result, it has called for producers to begin collecting sales data now and to ensure they have sales records for batteries placed on the UK market since January 2008.

Bob Mead, batteries project manager at the EA, said: “”Details around the Directive's implementation may change but the potential benefits for the environment won't and all producers will need to get ready. Finding out more will ensure your firm is well placed to deal with the new legislation effectively.”

The Agency also called on producers to look out for the list of applicants to run a batteries compliance scheme (BCS) that it plans to publish in June 2009, and to then begin talking to the schemes they could potentially join.

The financial impact on producers of the government's plans for battery collection and recycling has come under fire from key figures in the battery industry, with the British Battery Manufacturers' Association branding them 'ridiculously expensive” (see letsrecycle.com story).