The UK has announced that it will formally implement the EU's new Battery Directive NO.30/2008, also known as Battery Directive 2006/66/EC, prohibiting the sale of batteries and accumulators containing hazardous substances. The directive also specifies regulations for the collection, processing, recycling, and disposal of waste batteries and accumulators, aiming to improve their recycling and reuse rates. The UK recently revealed that its new legislation will take effect on September 26, 2008. Finland, Spain, Austria, and many other countries have also completed the conversion of this directive. The regulations governing batteries, as outlined in the Battery and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 (SI No. 2008/2164) and the Conversion Battery Directive 2006/66/EC, are UK law. These regulations list the technical requirements for placing batteries on the market, such as: prohibiting the production of batteries with mercury content exceeding 0.0005% (by weight) and cadmium content exceeding 0.002% (by weight); regulating battery labeling to promote recycling, including the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol; and requiring the labeling of chemical symbols indicating the excess lead, cadmium, and mercury content. Market regulations also cover the display and sale of batteries. (UK Business, Enterprise...)

China's regulations on defective product recalls are expected to be released next year. The State Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has completed the initial draft of the "Regulations on the Management of Defective Product Recalls," which is expected to be released as early as next year. "Besides automobiles, toys, food, and pharmaceuticals, which are already included in the defective product recall system, all other products that may cause serious personal health harm may be included in the recall scope, such as household appliances and public service facilities like elevators and cable cars," Liu Zhaobin, Director of the Legal Affairs Department of AQSIQ, told a reporter from China Daily yesterday on the sidelines of a seminar on the third anniversary of the implementation of the automobile recall system and the product recall system in Beijing. Director Liu revealed that the AQSIQ has now completed the initial draft of the bill and is widely soliciting opinions from enterprises and relevant government departments. "We will widely listen to opinions from all sides and actively strive to introduce the 'Regulations on the Management of Defective Product Recalls' as soon as possible, raising the legal level of defective product recall management, expanding the scope of product recall management, and strengthening government supervision," he said. "At the earliest, the 'Regulations on the Management of Defective Product Recalls' could be released next year." If passed, these regulations will be China's first law on the defective product recall system. The existing "Regulations on the Recall of Defective Automobile Products," "Regulations on the Recall of Children's Toys," "Regulations on the Recall of Food Products," and the "Draft Measures for the Recall of Drugs" (currently open for public comment) are all departmental regulations at the legal level. Jiang Tianbo, Director of the Industrial, Commercial and Industrial Law Department of the State Council Legislative Affairs Office, who attended the seminar, also clarified that the State Council Legislative Affairs Office is considering including these regulations in the national legal framework.

Canada's Ban on Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) Regulations Take Effect NO.29/2008 The Government of Canada passed the ban on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) used as flame retardants on June 19, 2008, effective immediately. Its aim is to protect the Canadian environment from the risks associated with PBDE contamination by preventing and restricting the use of PBDEs in Canada. This regulation falls under Section 93(1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999 (CEPA 1999), and was published by Environment Canada as an appendix in Part I of the Canada Gazette on December 16, 2006, pursuant to Section 332(1) of CEPA 1999. Scope of the Regulation This regulation primarily targets raw materials and does not regulate articles or final products containing PBDEs imported into or already in use in Canada, such as electrical and electronic components. The regulations prohibit the manufacture of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (congeners of tetrabrominated diphenyl ether, pentabrominated diphenyl ether, hexabrominated diphenyl ether, heptabrominated diphenyl ether, octabrominated diphenyl ether, nonabrominated diphenyl ether, and decabrominated diphenyl ether). The use, sale, and supply of these products are also prohibited.

Canada Approves Ban on Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) NO. 28/2008 The Government of Canada recently approved Environment Canada's proposed regulation, issued on January 9, 2007, banning the use of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), its salts, and its derivatives in consumer products. This regulation requires a ban, effective May 29, 2008, on the manufacture, use, sale, supply, importation, and manufacture of products containing PFOS. This regulation is based on subsection 93(1) of section 319 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999 (CEPA 1999), aimed at preventing environmental harm caused by the use of the following substances. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its salts, as well as compounds containing the C8F17SO2, C8F17SO3, or C8F17SO2N groups, are subject to restrictions on their market entry and use in Europe. In 2007, the European Parliament voted to adopt amendment 2006/122/EC to the EU Dangerous Substances Directive (76/769/EEC), strictly limiting the market entry and use of PFOS and related substances. Member States were required to transpose the directive into their national law by 27 December 2007, and to implement it from 27 June 2008.

Norway's PoHS Latest Progress: NO.26/2008 Prohibition on Certain Substances in Norwegian Consumer Products – Implementation Date Repeatedly Delayed

Greenpeace released the eighth edition of its Guide to Greener Electronics, No. 25/2008. Since the first edition was released in August 2006, Greenpeace has updated its assessment every three months. The eighth edition, released on June 25, 2008, evaluated 18 world-renowned manufacturers, covering products such as computers, mobile phones, televisions, and game consoles. Sony Ericsson and Sony both scored 5.1 points, ranking first, followed by Nokia with 4.8 points, and Samsung and Dell with 4.5 points. It is worth noting that the eighth edition has a different focus, leading to a lower overall score. The updated assessment criteria aim to: 1. Remove hazardous substances from products; 2. Responsibly retrieve/recycle waste products; 3. Improve corporate policies and practices related to climate and energy. Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) remain a focus of Greenpeace's attention. More hazardous substances are likely to be included in the assessment in the future. These include many substances already regulated by major manufacturers, such as: 1. All phthalates; 2.

The British Standards Institution (BSI) issued British Standards BS7272-1:2008 and BS7272-2:2008 on April 30, 2008. On the same day, BS7272-1:2008 officially came into effect, replacing BS7272-1:2000+A1:2000. The provisions of BS7272-2:2008 will supersede the existing BS7272-2:2000 (which will be withdrawn on September 30, 2009).

Recent Updates on RoHS Enforcement Investigations in the Nordic Countries NO.24/2008 At the beginning of the year, the RoHS enforcement agencies of the three Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, and Finland) released the results of their investigations into 152 electronic products sold by importers, manufacturers, and retailers. Of these, 22 products were found to be non-compliant with RoHS regulations, and one product resulted in prosecution. Christina Larsson, head of enforcement at the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI), stated that most of the products non-compliant with RoHS regulations were made of plastics or...

日本經濟產業省於2008年2月25日向世界貿易組織WTO通報了根據《電器和材料法》(the Electrical Appliances and Materials Law)、《關於電器和材料技術要求的法令》(the Ordinance Concerning Technical Requirements for Electrical Appliances and Materials)以及《經產省根據法令第2節認可的其他技術要求》(the other Technical Requirements recognized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in accordance with Section 2 of the Ordinance) 所發佈的部頒法令(G/TBT/N/JPN/247）。 該法令以人類安全為目標，要求下列內容必須以清楚易讀的日語標示在產品易於識別的部分，其標籤不得輕易磨損撕毀： a)  生產年份 b)  設計標準使用壽命（產品在正常使用條件下可安全使用的標準時間週期） c)  使用超過”使用壽命”