WEEE
EU directive managing waste electrical and electronic equipment
ISO 27701
International standard for privacy information management systems
Quick Verdict
WEEE mandates EU e-waste collection and recycling for electronics producers, while ISO 27701 certifies voluntary privacy management for PII handlers. Companies adopt WEEE for legal compliance across Europe; ISO 27701 for global trust, audits, and regulatory alignment.
WEEE
Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment
Key Features
- Mandates Extended Producer Responsibility for financing collection
- Open scope covers all EEE since August 2018
- Sets 65% POM or 85% generated collection targets
- Requires producer registration in each Member State
- Enforces selective depollution and recovery standards
ISO 27701
ISO/IEC 27701:2025 Privacy Information Management System
Key Features
- Establishes Privacy Information Management System (PIMS)
- Role-specific controls for controllers and processors
- Integrates with ISO 27001 ISMS and PDCA cycle
- Mappings to GDPR and global privacy regulations
- Risk-based assessments and DPIAs for accountability
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
WEEE Details
What It Is
Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE Directive) is a binding EU regulation establishing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). It promotes waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and recovery while minimizing environmental and health risks. Scope shifted to open scope in 2018, covering all EEE across six categories via risk-based collection and treatment mandates.
Key Components
- Producer registration/reporting in each Member State
- Collection targets: 65% of EEE placed on market (POM) or 85% generated
- Selective treatment (Annex II depollution), recovery/recycling thresholds
- Distributor take-back (one-for-one, very small WEEE)
- Harmonized reporting via national registers; no central certification but audits/enforcement
Why Organizations Use It
Legal transposition mandates compliance for producers/importers; reduces risks from illegal exports/hazards; enables critical raw material recovery; supports Green Deal circularity; builds stakeholder trust via traceability.
Implementation Overview
Multi-jurisdictional registration, POM data governance, PRO schemes; gap analysis, reverse logistics design, audits. Applies to all EEE sellers EU-wide; phased rollout (0-18 months) with ongoing reporting.
ISO 27701 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27701:2025 is the international standard defining requirements for a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS). It targets PII controllers and processors, governing PII lifecycle from collection to disposal. Employs a risk-based PDCA methodology aligned with ISO/IEC 27001:2022.
Key Components
- Clauses 4–10: Context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement
- **Annex A Controls for PII controllers (e.g., consent, DSRs)
- **Annex BControls for PII processors (e.g., contracts, sub-processors)
- Mappings to GDPR (Annex D), ISO 27002; certification via accredited audits (3-year cycle)
Why Organizations Use It
- Meets accountability for GDPR, CCPA, LGPD
- Reduces breach risks, fines, operational costs
- Builds trust, aids procurement, differentiates in markets
- Harmonizes multi-jurisdictional compliance
Implementation Overview
Phased PDCA: scope/PII inventory, gap analysis, controls rollout, audits. Suits all sizes/sectors handling PII; integrates with ISMS. Key: training, DPIAs, RoPA, vendor management. (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | WEEE | ISO 27701 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | End-of-life EEE management, collection, treatment, recycling | Privacy Information Management System for PII lifecycle |
| Industry | Electronics producers, EU/EEA-wide, all sizes | Any PII-processing organizations, global applicability |
| Nature | Binding EU Directive, mandatory national transposition | Voluntary ISO certification standard |
| Testing | National reporting, Eurostat monitoring, no certification | Third-party audits, 3-year certification with surveillance |
| Penalties | National fines, market bans, enforcement actions | No legal penalties, loss of certification |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about WEEE and ISO 27701
WEEE FAQ
ISO 27701 FAQ
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