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Official Journal of the European Union

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DIRECTIVE 2002/95/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 27 January 2003
on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

to be protected and an overall strategy that in particular
restricts the use of cadmium and stimulates research into
substitutes should therefore be implemented. The Resolution stresses that the use of cadmium should be limited
to cases where suitable and safer alternatives do notexist.

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (2),(5)

The available evidence indicates that measures on thecollection, treatment, recycling and disposal of waste
electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) as set out inDirective 2002/96/EC of 27 January 2003 of theEuropean Parliament and of the Council on waste electrical and electronic equipment (6) are necessary to
reduce the waste management problems linked to theheavy metals concerned and the flame retardants
concerned. In spite of those measures, however, significant parts of WEEE will continue to be found in thecurrent disposal routes. Even if WEEE were collected
separately and submitted to recycling processes, its
content of mercury, cadmium, lead, chromium VI, PBB
and PBDE would be likely to pose risks to health or theenvironment.

(6)

Taking into account technical and economic feasibility,
the most effective way of ensuring the significant reduction of risks to health and the environment relating tothose substances which can achieve the chosen level ofprotection in the Community is the substitution of those
substances in electrical and electronic equipment by safeor safer materials. Restricting the use of these hazardous
substances is likely to enhance the possibilities andeconomic profitability of recycling of WEEE anddecrease the negative health impact on workers in recycling plants.

(7)

The substances covered by this Directive are scientificallywell researched and evaluated and have been subject todifferent measures both at Community and at national
level.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Directive take into
account existing international guidelines and recommendations and are based on an assessment of available
scientific and technical information. The measures arenecessary to achieve the chosen level of protection ofHaving regard to the opinion of the Committee of Regions (3),Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty in the light of the joint text approved by theConciliation Committee on 8 November 2002 (4),Whereas:(1)

The disparities between the laws or administrative
measures adopted by the Member States as regards the
restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment could create barriers totrade and distort competition in the Community andmay thereby have a direct impact on the establishment
and functioning of the internal market. It therefore
appears necessary to approximate the laws of theMember States in this field and to contribute to theprotection of human health and the environmentallysound recovery and disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment.

(2)

The European Council at its meeting in Nice on 7, 8 and9 December 2000 endorsed the Council Resolution of 4
December 2000 on the precautionary principle.

(3)

The Commission Communication of 30 July 1996 on
the review of the Community strategy for waste management stresses the need to reduce the content of hazardous substances in waste and points out the potential
benefits of Community-wide rules limiting the presenceof such substances in products and in production
processes.

(4)

The Council Resolution of 25 January 1988 on a
Community action programme to combat environmental
pollution by cadmium (5) invites the Commission to
pursue without delay the development of specificmeasures for such a programme. Human health also has(1) OJ C 365 E, 19.12.2000, p. 195 and OJ C 240 E, 28.8.2001, p.
303.
(2) OJ C 116, 20.4.2001, p. 38.
(3) OJ C 148, 18.5.2001, p. 1.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 15 May 2001 (OJ C 34 E,
7.2.2002, p. 109), Council Common Position of 4 December 2001
(OJ C 90 E, 16.4.2002, p. 12) and Decision of the European Parliament of 10 April 2002 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
Decision of the European Parliament of 18 December 2002 andDecision of the Council of 16 December 2002.
5( ) OJ C 30, 4.2.1988, p. 1.

(6) See page 24 of this Official Journal.

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human and animal health and the environment, having
regard to the risks which the absence of measures would
be likely to create in the Community. The measures
should be kept under review and, if necessary, adjusted
to take account of available technical and scientific information.

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bute to the protection of human health and the environmentally sound recovery and disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment.

Article 2
(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

This Directive should apply without prejudice toCommunity legislation on safety and health requirements and specific Community waste management legislation, in particular Council Directive 91/157/EEC of 18
March 1991 on batteries and accumulators containing
certain dangerous substances (1).
The technical development of electrical and electronicequipment without heavy metals, PBDE and PBB should
be taken into account. As soon as scientific evidence isavailable and taking into account the precautionary principle, the prohibition of other hazardous substances andtheir substitution by more environmentally friendly alternatives which ensure at least the same level of protectionof consumers should be examined.
Exemptions from the substitution requirement should bepermitted if substitution is not possible from the scientific and technical point of view or if the negative environmental or health impacts caused by substitution arelikely to outweigh the human and environmental benefits of the substitution. Substitution of the hazardous
substances in electrical and electronic equipment should
also be carried out in a way so as to be compatible withthe health and safety of users of electrical and electronicequipment (EEE).
As product reuse, refurbishment and extension of lifetime are beneficial, spare parts need to be available.

(13)

The adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the
exemptions from the requirements concerning phasingout and prohibition of hazardous substances should be
effected by the Commission under a committee procedure.

(14)

The measures necessary for the implementation of thisDirective should be adopted in accordance with Council
Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down
the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers
conferred on the Commission (2),Scope
1. Without prejudice to Article 6, this Directive shall apply
to electrical and electronic equipment falling under the categories 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 set out in Annex IA to Directive No 2002/96/EC (WEEE) and to electric light bulbs, andluminaires in households.
2. This Directive shall apply without prejudice to Community legislation on safety and health requirements and specificCommunity waste management legislation.
3. This Directive does not apply to spare parts for the repair,or to the reuse, of electrical and electronic equipment put on
the market before 1 July 2006.

Article 3
Definitions
For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions
shall apply:(a) ‘electrical and electronic equipment’ or ‘EEE’ means equipment which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work properly and equipment
for the generation, transfer and measurement of suchcurrents and fields falling under the categories set out inAnnex IA to Directive 2002/96/EC (WEEE) and designed
for use with a voltage rating not exceeding 1 000 volts foralternating current and 1 500 volts for direct current;(b) ‘producer’ means any person who, irrespective of the selling
technique used, including by means of distance communication according to Directive 97/7/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 1997 on theprotection of consumers in respect of distance contracts (3):(i) manufactures and sells electrical and electronic equipment under his own brand;

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1(ii) resells under his own brand equipment produced byother suppliers, a reseller not being regarded as the‘producer’ if the brand of the producer appears on theequipment, as provided for in subpoint (i); or

Objectives(iii) imports or exports electrical and electronic equipment
on a professional basis into a Member State.

The purpose of this Directive is to approximate the laws of theMember States on the restrictions of the use of hazardous
substances in electrical and electronic equipment and to contri(1) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991, p. 38. Directive as amended by Commission
Directive 98/101/EC (OJ L 1, 5.1.1999, p. 1).
(2) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

Whoever exclusively provides financing under or pursuant toany finance agreement shall not be deemed a ‘producer’ unlesshe also acts as a producer within the meaning of subpoints (i)to (iii).
(3) OJ L 144, 4.6.1997, p. 19. Directive as amended by Directive
2002/65/EC (L 271, 9.10.2002, p. 16).

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Article 4(1) is technically or scientifically possible, provided
that the negative environmental, health and/or consumer
safety impacts caused by substitution do not outweigh thepossible environmental, health and/or consumer safety
benefits thereof.

Article 4
Prevention
1.
Member States shall ensure that, from 1 July 2006, newelectrical and electronic equipment put on the market does notcontain lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDE). National measures restricting or prohibiting the use of
these substances in electrical and electronic equipment whichwere adopted in line with Community legislation before theadoption of this Directive may be maintained until 1 July
2006.

2. Before the Annex is amended pursuant to paragraph 1,
the Commission shall inter alia consult producers of electricaland electronic equipment, recyclers, treatment operators, environmental organisations and employee and consumer associations. Comments shall be forwarded to the Committee referred
to in Article 7(1). The Commission shall provide an account of
the information it receives.

Article 6

2.
Paragraph 1 shall not apply to the applications listed in
the Annex.
3.
On the basis of a proposal from the Commission, theEuropean Parliament and the Council shall decide, as soon as
scientific evidence is available, and in accordance with the principles on chemicals policy as laid down in the Sixth Community Environment Action Programme, on the prohibition ofother hazardous substances and the substitution thereof bymore environment-friendly alternatives which ensure at least
the same level of protection for consumers.

Article 5

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Review
Before 13 February 2005, the Commission shall review themeasures provided for in this Directive to take into account, as
necessary, new scientific evidence.
In particular the Commission shall, by that date, present proposals for including in the scope of this Directive equipment
which falls under categories 8 and 9 set out in Annex IA to
Directive 2002/96/EC (WEEE).
The Commission shall also study the need to adapt the list of
substances of Article 4(1), on the basis of scientific facts andtaking the precautionary principle into account, and present
proposals to the European Parliament and Council for such
adaptations, if appropriate.

Adaptation to scientific and technical progress
1.
Any amendments which are necessary in order to adapt
the Annex to scientific and technical progress for the following
purposes shall be adopted in accordance with the procedurereferred to in Article 7(2):Particular attention shall be paid during the review to theimpact on the environment and on human health of otherhazardous substances and materials used in electrical and electronic equipment. The Commission shall examine the feasibilityof replacing such substances and materials and shall present
proposals to the European Parliament and to the Council inorder to extend the scope of Article 4, as appropriate.

(a) establishing, as necessary, maximum concentration values
up to which the presence of the substances referred to in
Article 4(1) in specific materials and components of electrical and electronic equipment shall be tolerated;(b) exempting materials and components of electrical and electronic equipment from Article 4(1) if their elimination or
substitution via design changes or materials and components which do not require any of the materials or
substances referred to therein is technically or scientificallyimpracticable, or where the negative environmental, healthand/or consumer safety impacts caused by substitution arelikely to outweigh the environmental, health and/or
consumer safety benefits thereof;(c) carrying out a review of each exemption in the Annex at
least every four years or four years after an item is added to
the list with the aim of considering deletion of materials
and components of electrical and electronic equipmentfrom the Annex if their elimination or substitution via
design changes or materials and components which do not
require any of the materials or substances referred to in

Article 7
Committee
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee set
up by Article 18 of Council Directive 75/442/EEC (1).
2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and
7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to
Article 8 thereof.
The period provided for in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/
EC shall be set at three months.
3.

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975, p. 39.

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Article 8
Penalties
Member States shall determine penalties applicable to breachesof the national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive.
The penalties thus provided for shall be effective, proportionate
and dissuasive.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the
text of all laws, regulations and administrative provisions
adopted in the field covered by this Directive.
Article 10
Entry into force
This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 9

Article 11

Transposition
1.
Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations
and administrative provisions necessary to comply with thisDirective before 13 August 2004. They shall immediately
inform the Commission thereof.
When Member States adopt those measures, they shall containa reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methodsof making such a reference shall be laid down by the Member
States.

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Addressees
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 27 January 2003.
For the European Parliament

For the Council

The President

The President

P. COX

G. DRYS

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Official Journal of the European Union

ANNEX
Applications of lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium, which are exempted from the requirementsof Article 4(1)1. Mercury in compact fluorescent lamps not exceeding 5 mg per lamp.
2. Mercury in straight fluorescent lamps for general purposes not exceeding:— halophosphate

10 mg— triphosphate with normal lifetime

5 mg— triphosphate with long lifetime

8 mg.

3. Mercury in straight fluorescent lamps for special purposes.
4. Mercury in other lamps not specifically mentioned in this Annex.
5. Lead in glass of cathode ray tubes, electronic components and fluorescent tubes.
6. Lead as an alloying element in steel containing up to 0,35 % lead by weight, aluminium containing up to 0,4 % leadby weight and as a copper alloy containing up to 4 % lead by weight.
7. — Lead in high melting temperature type solders (i.e. tin-lead solder alloys containing more than 85 % lead),— lead in solders for servers, storage and storage array systems (exemption granted until 2010),— lead in solders for network infrastructure equipment for switching, signalling, transmission as well as network
management for telecommunication,— lead in electronic ceramic parts (e.g. piezoelectronic devices).
8. Cadmium plating except for applications banned under Directive 91/338/EEC (1) amending Directive 76/769/EEC (2)relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations.
9. Hexavalent chromium as an anti-corrosion of the carbon steel cooling system in absorption refrigerators.
10. Within the procedure referred to in Article 7(2), the Commission shall evaluate the applications for:— Deca BDE,
— mercury in straight fluorescent lamps for special purposes,— lead in solders for servers, storage and storage array systems, network infrastructure equipment for switching,signalling, transmission as well as network management for telecommunications (with a view to setting a
specific time limit for this exemption), and— light bulbs,
as a matter of priority in order to establish as soon as possible whether these items are to be amended accordingly.

(1) OJ L 186, 12.7.1991, p. 59.
(2) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 201.

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