This week the European Parliament signalled its support for changes to WEEE legislation governing business electrical equipment.
Instead of requiring manufacturers to be responsible for all their own-brand waste electrical equipment used by businesses, a softer stance by the Commission, proposed in April 2003, favours a like-for-like approach. The Commission changed its proposals following heavy lobbying by manufacturers who felt it was an unfair financial burden for them to cover all their own equipment which came onto the market before the Directive was introduced and for which no provision was made.
The indication that the Parliament will support the Commission's revised approach came this week after a discussion in the parliamentary committee dealing with WEEE.
A report on the implications of the changes was discussed. It said of the original legislation: “This retrospective requirement poses a particular financial threat to producers whose sales volumes were much larger in the past than they are today or will be in the future, whereas undertakings new to the market will be unaffected. The danger is, therefore, that undertakings which are already in financial difficulties might be driven into bankruptcy.”
Karl-Heinz Florenz MEP, parliament rapporteur, has now recommended that the European Parliament accepts the Commission's proposed changes without any amendments. The environment committee will vote on the report on October 2 and it will then be examined by the Parliament on October 20-23.
UK Consultation
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is continuing its consultations on the WEEE Directive and how it should be implemented in the UK.
This autumn, the DTI is holding regional seminars to discuss the issues associated with the directive before publishing its second public consultation document outlining possible options for legislation. The third and final consultation will be held in the spring and will contain the specific legal options the government plans to take.
The European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive prescribes how WEEE is treated and sets targets for its recycling. The Directive is expected to be ratified into UK law in August 2004.
Register for free to comment