GDPR
EU regulation for personal data protection and privacy
WEEE
EU Directive for waste electrical and electronic equipment management
Quick Verdict
GDPR regulates personal data protection globally for EU residents, mandating rights and accountability. WEEE enforces EEE waste management via producer responsibility in EU markets. Companies adopt GDPR to avoid massive fines and build trust; WEEE for legal compliance and circular economy goals.
GDPR
Regulation (EU) 2016/679 General Data Protection Regulation
Key Features
- Extraterritorial scope targets non-EU entities processing EU data
- Accountability principle requires demonstrable compliance proof
- Fines up to 4% of global annual turnover
- Enhanced data subject rights including right to erasure
- Mandatory 72-hour personal data breach notification
WEEE
Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment
Key Features
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) financing and organization
- Open scope covering all EEE since August 2018
- 65% collection targets of EEE placed on market
- Mandatory selective depollution and treatment standards
- National producer registration and harmonized reporting
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
GDPR Details
What It Is
Regulation (EU) 2016/679, known as the GDPR, is a directly applicable EU regulation protecting natural persons' personal data. It modernizes privacy for the digital age, replacing the 1995 Directive, with extraterritorial scope applying globally to EU data processing. Employs a risk-based accountability approach emphasizing demonstrable compliance.
Key Components
- Seven core principles: lawfulness, purpose limitation, minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity/confidentiality, accountability.
- Enhanced data subject rights (access, rectification, erasure, portability, objection).
- Obligations like DPO appointment, DPIAs, ROPA, 72-hour breach notifications.
- One-stop-shop enforcement; fines up to €20M or 4% global turnover; no formal certification but DPA audits.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandatory for EU data handlers to avoid severe fines, ensure legal compliance, manage risks from breaches/transfers. Builds stakeholder trust, inspires global standards (e.g., LGPD, CCPA), enhances reputation in digital markets.
Implementation Overview
Involves gap analysis, policy updates, DPO/DPIA setup, training, vendor contracts. Applies to all sizes processing EU data; high burden on SMEs. Ongoing DPA supervision, no certification but audits/EDPB guidance.
WEEE Details
What It Is
Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE Directive) is a binding EU legal framework establishing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for end-of-life management of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). Its primary purpose is to minimize e-waste environmental impacts, promote circular economy via prevention, reuse, recycling, and recovery. Scope covers all EEE under open scope since 2018, using risk-based treatment and collection targets.
Key Components
- EPR pillars: producer registration, financing, take-back organization.
- Six Annex III categories; collection targets (65% average EEE placed on market or 85% generated).
- Selective treatment (Annex II depollution), recovery/recycling thresholds.
- Built on waste hierarchy; harmonized reporting via national registers; no central certification, compliance via PROs/audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for EU producers/importers to avoid penalties, market bans.
- Drives resource recovery (critical materials), risk reduction (hazards), Green Deal alignment.
- Enhances reputation, supply chain resilience, cost efficiencies via eco-design.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, registration per Member State, join PROs, POM reporting, reverse logistics.
- Applies to producers/distributors selling EEE in EU/EEA; multi-jurisdictional.
- Ongoing audits, no formal certification but evidence-based enforcement.
Key Differences
| Aspect | GDPR | WEEE |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Personal data protection and privacy | EEE waste management and recycling |
| Industry | All sectors processing EU data globally | EEE manufacturers, importers, EU-focused |
| Nature | Directly applicable EU regulation, mandatory | EU directive, nationally transposed, mandatory |
| Testing | DPIAs, audits, no mandatory certification | Treatment audits, recovery verification |
| Penalties | Up to 4% global turnover fines | National fines, market bans |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about GDPR and WEEE
GDPR FAQ
WEEE FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...
Beyond the Checkbox: Why Maturity Assessments are the Secret to Sustainable Compliance
Discover why maturity assessments beat binary compliance checks by uncovering hidden gaps and enabling continuous improvement for sustainable success. Read now!
Top 5 Audit Survival Secrets for Your First SOC 2 Type 2: What Auditors Really Check (and How to Pass)
Master your first SOC 2 Type 2 audit with proven strategies: 40-sample testing, vendor gaps, CPA walkthroughs. Get checklists, scripts & tips from SignWell to s
PDPA Cross-Border Transfer Rules Decoded: Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan Mechanisms Compared with Practical Implementation Templates
Decode PDPA cross-border transfers for Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan. Statutory excerpts, approved mechanisms, SCC templates. Harmonize with GDPR, navigate exempt
Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM
Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform
Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.
Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages
NIST CSF vs ISO 41001
Explore NIST CSF vs ISO 41001: Compare cybersecurity frameworks with facility mgmt standards. Key diffs, benefits & integration for resilient ops. Choose the right fit now!
AS9100 vs APRA CPS 234
Discover AS9100 vs APRA CPS 234: Compare aerospace QMS standards with Australia's financial info security rules. Unlock key differences, compliance strategies & benefits for regulated sectors. Dive in!
ISO 27017 vs SAMA CSF
Compare ISO 27017 vs SAMA CSF: Cloud-specific controls vs Saudi financial maturity framework. Boost CSP compliance, clarify shared risks. Find key differences now!