GUE/NGL today welcomed an EP-Council first reading agreement on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS).

"Despite tough negotiations with Council in which pressures from industrial lobbies partly succeeded in weakening the text, the draft legislation stands improved as all concerned materials will be included in the open scope of this directive to be implemented within eight years. All materials will therefore in future come under the provisions of the new directive if this is required by an impact assessment" German MEP Sabine Wils said.

The new RoHS directive will integrate the Waste Framework directive 2008/98 and help countries to sort into different waste streams some of the most harmful substances contained in electrical equipment with legal certainty on rules to be applied both in the introduction into the market and in their re-use.

Despite the fact that the inclusion of a list of bromated flame retardants, phthalates and more than 30 other harmful substances under the scope of the directive was not achieved, and that a tight time schedule on Council and Member States in reviewing temporary existing exemptions was not imposed, these hazardous substances will be submitted to Commission review and impact assessment within three years. "Citizens' health has thus been safeguarded and legal certainty provided on the methodology for new restrictions and criteria for exemptions" Wils concluded.

GUE/NGL PRESS CONTACTS:

David Lundy + 32 485 50 58 12
Gianfranco Battistini + 32 475 64 66 28
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20
www.guengl.eu
Gauche Unitaire Européenne/Nordic Green Left
European Parliamentary Group