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Follow on Google News | EU Agrees on Phase Out of Mercury and Cadmium in Certain Types of BatteriesOn the 20th of March 2013, the European Parliament Environment Committee voted on the ban of mercury in button cell batteries by 2014 and cadmium accumulators for cordless power tools by 2015.
This recent decision was received favorably by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) as banning mercury in button cell batteries marks an important step towards the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The Minamata Convention The Minamata Convention, named after a Japanese city where mercury pollution has caused serious health damage in the mid-20th century, is an international effort to address the health and environmental effects of mercury. After four years of negotiation, in January this year, over 140 UN member states have agreed to the provisions of this treaty, in an attempt to control and reduce not only mercury products, but also mercury-emitting or releasing processes and industries. Under the treaty, the production, export and import of a range of mercury containing products, such as batteries, switches, certain types of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), will be banned by the year 2020. The treaty is expected to come into force in three to five years’ time and already shows some effect not only in the European Union.(2) Mercury and Cadmium Ban The currently allowed use of mercury and cadmium in certain types of batteries and accumulators is based on exemptions in the Directive 2006/66/EC. Currently button cell batteries may contain up to two percent mercury by weight according to the Directive’s Article 4, Paragraph 2, and the use of cadmium is unlimited in certain portable batteries and accumulators according to the Directive’s Article 4, Paragraph 3. The European Parliament Environmental Committee’s vote to eliminate mercury in button cell batteries and cadmium accumulators was based on the findings of two studies funded by the European Commission, which showed significant environmental and economic arguments in favor of the ban and identified a series of commercially available, appropriate mercury substitutes that are already being used on the EU market.(3) There is currently no information on designated substance limits for the two heavy metals available which would give an indication what a ban would actually mean from a technical perspective. The three-year deadline for the withdrawal of obsolete, non-compliant batteries is not in consensus with the view of the EEB and the ZMWG who were in favor of a one-year period. This would have ensured that such non-compliant batteries would be off the market sooner. Negotiations will now take place between the Council and the Parliament to ensure that a final agreement on the subject of phasing out mercury from batteries by 2014 and cadmium by 2015 is reached, with minimum delay to the removal of non-compliant supplies. About SGS Electrical & Electronics Services SGS is committed to keeping you up to date on the latest regulations and policies concerning the use of hazardous substances in consumer products. Furthermore, through its global expertise and network of chemical labs, SGS can support you in ensuring your products comply with relevant hazardous substances requirements on all relevant markets around the world. Whether you are in need of hazardous substances testing (http://www.sgs.com/ Resources: (1) Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 September 2006 (2) SafeGuards 043/13 (3) Environment NGOs call for a ban on Cadmium in batteries for cordless power tools (CPTs) and on Mercury in button cells batteries Please contact the SGS experts, should you require more information on hazardous substances in E&E products. Contact details: SGS Consumer Testing Services Dr. Udo Krischke Global Technical Manager RSTS (Restricted Substances Testing Services) SGS Germany GmbH Im Maisel 14, 65232 Taunusstein, Germany t: +49 6128 - 744 235 Email: cts.media@sgs.com Website: http://www.sgs.com/ 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 75 000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1 500 offices and laboratories around the world. End
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