WEEE
EU Directive for end-of-life management of electrical equipment
REACH
EU regulation for chemical registration, evaluation, authorisation, restriction
Quick Verdict
WEEE mandates end-of-life management for electronics producers via EPR and collection targets across EU markets, while REACH requires chemical registration and risk assessment for importers/manufacturers. Companies adopt them for legal compliance, market access, and circular economy/resource security.
WEEE
Directive 2012/19/EU on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Key Features
- Imposes Extended Producer Responsibility on EEE producers
- Mandates 65% POM or 85% generated WEEE collection targets
- Enforces open-scope classification into six EEE categories
- Requires selective depollution and Annex II treatment standards
- Demands national registration with harmonized POM reporting
REACH
Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 on REACH
Key Features
- Shifts chemical risk management responsibility to industry
- Requires registration dossiers for substances over 1 tonne/year
- Authorisation regime for SVHCs via Annex XIV
- EU-wide restrictions on unacceptable risks (Annex XVII)
- Mandatory supply chain SDS and SVHC communication
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
WEEE Details
What It Is
Directive 2012/19/EU, the recast WEEE Directive, is a binding EU regulation establishing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). It covers all EEE under open scope since 2018, prioritizing waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and recovery to minimize environmental/health risks and support circular economy goals via risk-based collection/treatment mandates.
Key Components
- Six open-scope EEE categories in Annex III.
- **Collection targets65% average EEE placed on market (POM) or 85% WEEE generated.
- Selective treatment (Annex II depollution) and storage standards.
- National producer registers with harmonized reporting (2019/290).
- EPR financing via collective/individual schemes; no certification, but audits/enforcement.
Why Organizations Use It
Compliance avoids fines/market bans; enables critical raw material recovery, reduces EPR fees via eco-design, ensures EU market access, builds stakeholder trust, and aligns with Green Deal for competitive sustainability edge.
Implementation Overview
Multi-phase: gap analysis, country registrations, PRO joining, POM data systems, reverse logistics. Applies to producers/importers EU-wide; high complexity for multinationals; ongoing reporting/audits via national authorities. (178 words)
REACH Details
What It Is
REACH (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006) is a directly applicable EU regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. Its primary purpose is to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment from chemical risks by shifting responsibility to industry for generating and managing safety data. It adopts a risk-based lifecycle approach covering substances, mixtures, and articles.
Key Components
- Four pillars: Registration (>1 tonne/year dossiers), Evaluation (dossier/substance checks), Authorisation (SVHC Annex XIV permissions), Restriction (Annex XVII bans/limits).
- 17 technical annexes defining data requirements, SDS rules, and lists.
- Built on industry-led data generation, ECHA coordination, and national enforcement.
- Continuous compliance model without formal certification.
Why Organizations Use It
- Legal obligation for EU market access; penalties for non-compliance.
- Manages supply chain risks, avoids market bans/recalls.
- Drives substitution, innovation, and ESG transparency.
- Builds stakeholder trust via safe-use communication.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, inventory, dossiers, monitoring.
- Cross-functional (procurement, R&D, regulatory); tools like IUCLID.
- Applies to manufacturers/importers globally; all sizes/industries with chemicals.
- No certification; ECHA submissions and national audits. (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | WEEE | REACH |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | End-of-life electrical/electronic equipment management | Chemical substances registration/evaluation/restriction |
| Industry | Electronics producers/appliance manufacturers/EU-focused | All chemical-using sectors/manufacturers/importers/EU-wide |
| Nature | Mandatory EU directive via national transposition | Directly applicable EU regulation with ECHA oversight |
| Testing | Treatment/recovery rate verification by authorities/PROs | Hazard/toxicity testing per tonnage bands/dossier submission |
| Penalties | National fines/market restrictions/enforcement variable | Effective/proportionate/dissuasive national penalties |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about WEEE and REACH
WEEE FAQ
REACH FAQ
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