EBFRIP calls for consistent approach to chemicals' evaluation in EU RoHS proposal

12-09-2008: The European Commission issued a proposal to revise the EU’s Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS Directive). Significantly, the Commission’s proposal does not add any new substances to the RoHS’ restrictions list. The proposal, which is expected to enter into force at the end of 2011, links the future assessment of substances under RoHS to the principles behind the EU’s chemicals policy, known as REACH.

However, the Commission proposal falls short of achieving scientific and regulatory consistency. Specifically, the proposal contradicts the EU’s own existing chemicals policy by restricting use of the flame retardant Deca-BDE, despite an EU risk assessment concluding there is no need for any such restriction.

Moreover, according to the European Brominated Flame Retardant Industry Panel (EBFRIP), the Commission has chosen to ignore widespread calls from industry to enact a single process for evaluating substances used in electrical and electronic products. By failing to act, the Commission has missed an opportunity to ensure that EU rules on electrical and electronic equipment are based on science and to avoid potential discrimination under trade rules.

EBFRIP will be looking to the European Parliament and the Council to address this inconsistency during their consideration of the Commission proposal in 2009-2010.