SGS helps Manufacturers observe India’s New E-Waste Law

Aug. 23, 2011 - PRLog -- After several years of campaigning by environmental groups, India's Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has introduced the “E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011”, which were amended from a draft document of the European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) and the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS).

Coming into effect in May 2012, the Indian E-Waste law (http://moef.nic.in/downloads/rules-and-regulations/1035e_eng.pdf) will apply to all those in the supply and usage chains, from producers to dismantlers of electrical and electronic equipment. The law includes an Extended Producers' Responsibility (EPR) for recycling, for reducing levels of hazardous substances in electronics and setting up collection centers. It is understood that this legislation is being promoted by Non Governmental Organizations and a few manufacturers who already have “green policies” that restrict most of the substances mentioned.

Reduction in the Use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)

Similar to the EU’s WEEE and RoHS legislation (http://www.ee.sgs.com/introduction-to-rohs.htm), all producers of information technology, telecommunications equipment and consumer electronics must ensure that new electrical and electronic equipment does not contain more than 0.1% by weight in homogenous materials of lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). Further, it restricts homogenous materials containing cadmium to a maximum concentration of 0.01% by weight.

Responsibilities of Producers with Regards to E-Waste

Producers of electrical and electronic equipment shall be responsible for the collection of any e-waste generated during the production and recycling, collection of e-waste from the ‘end-of-life’ of their product, the setting up of collection centers, financing and organizing a system to cover the management costs of e-waste collection, providing contact details to consumers to simplify e-waste returns, create awareness of potential hazards during use and disposal (including affixing a crossed out wheeled litter bin mark).

As the law takes effect, the e-waste rules will require manufacturers and importers to supply only “RoHS compliant” products provide written evidence of compliance, and include details about the restricted substances in the product information booklet. Such reduction in use of hazardous substances in manufactured or imported electrical and electronic equipment shall be achieved within two years from the date of the act’s commencement. SGS is the market leader in RoHS testing and can provide a global compliance program covering the whole supply chain.

SGS Global Compliance Program

As the world’s leader in third-party testing, SGS has established procedures to cover a wide variety of legal requirements related to electrical and electronic products. SGS experts can support you in product compliance with global RoHS services (http://www.ee.sgs.com/global-rohs-services.htm) (EU, China, Korea, US, etc.), CE marking, REACH/SVHC, battery regulations and many other requirements related to consumer products.

Regardless of whether you need chemical testing or services in the fields of inspection, certification, compliance assurance, outsourcing, training or auditing - SGS is dedicated to satisfy your needs.

For more information on the Indian e-waste law and related SGS services, please contact:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Asish Chakraborty
Manager-Technical (Multilabs)

SGS India Private Limited
15 C Hemanta Basu Sarani, 3rd & 4th Floors,
LMJ Chambers, Kolkata, 700 001, India

t: +91 33 662 66 100 -104 (B)
f: +91 33 224 20 745, 224 81 745
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/ee

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 67,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,250 offices and laboratories around the world.

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SGS Consumer Testing Services ensures the quality and safety of every kind of consumer products, from textiles, electronics and furniture to food and automotive.
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