Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act

To control the export of electronic waste in order to ensure that such waste does not become the source of counterfeit goods that may reenter military and civilian electronics supply chains in the United States, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act 2. Export controls on electronic waste (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Electronic waste (A) In general The term electronic waste (i) Computers and related equipment. (ii) Data center equipment (including servers, network equipment, firewalls, battery backup systems, and power distribution units). (iii) Mobile computers (including notebooks, netbooks, tablets, and e-book readers). (iv) Televisions (including portable televisions and portable DVD players). (v) Video display devices (including monitors, digital picture frames, and portable video devices). (vi) Digital imaging devices (including printers, copiers, facsimile machines, image scanners, and multifunction machines). (vii) Consumer electronics— (I) including digital cameras, projectors, digital audio players, cellular phones and wireless Internet communication devices, audio equipment, video cassette recorders, DVD players, video game systems (including portable systems), video game controllers, signal converter boxes, and cable and satellite receivers; and (II) not including appliances that have electronic features. (viii) Portable global positioning system navigation devices. (ix) Other used electronic items that the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this section. (B) Exempt items The term electronic waste (i) exempted electronic waste items; or (ii) electronic parts of a motor vehicle. (2) Exempted electronic waste items (A) In general The term exempted electronic waste items (i) Tested, working used electronics. (ii) Low-risk counterfeit electronics. (iii) Recalled electronics. (B) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) Tested, working used electronics The term tested, working used electronics (I) are determined, through testing methodologies established by the Secretary, to be fully functional for the purpose for which the items were designed, or, in the case of multifunction devices, fully functional for at least one of the primary purposes for which the items were designed; (II) are exported with the intent to reuse the products as functional products; and (III) are appropriately packaged for shipment to prevent the items from losing functionality due to damage during shipment. (ii) Low-risk counterfeit electronics The term low-risk counterfeit electronics (I) have been subjected to destruction processes that render the items unusable for their original purpose; and (II) are exported as a feedstock, with no additional mechanical or hand separation required, in a reclamation process to render the electronic components or items recycled consistent with the laws of the foreign country performing the reclamation process. (iii) The term recalled electronics (I) because of a defect in the design or manufacture of the items— (aa) are subject to a recall notice issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission or other pertinent Federal authority and have been received by the manufacturer or its agent and repaired by the manufacturer or its agent to cure the defect; or (bb) have been recalled by the manufacturer as a condition of the validity of the warranty on the items and have been repaired by the manufacturer or its agent to cure the defect; and (II) are exported by the manufacturer of the items. (iv) The term feedstock (3) Counterfeit good The term counterfeit good (4) Counterfeit military good The term counterfeit military good (A) is falsely identified or labeled as meeting military specifications; or (B) is intended for use in a military or national security application. (5) Counterfeit mark The term counterfeit mark (6) Export administration regulations The term Export Administration Regulations (7) Export; reexport The terms export reexport export reexport 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. (8) Secretary The term Secretary (9) Used A product is used (b) Prohibition Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), no person or entity may export or reexport electronic waste or exempted electronic waste items. (c) Export prohibition exemptions A person or entity may export or reexport exempted electronic waste items, but only if the following requirements are met: (1) Registration The person or entity is listed on a publicly available registry maintained by the Secretary. (2) Filing of export information For each export transaction, the person or entity files in the Automated Export System, in accordance with part 758 of the Export Administration Regulations, Electronic Export Information that contains at least the following information: (A) A description of the type and total quantity of exempted electronic waste items exported. (B) The name of each country that received the exempted electronic waste items for reuse or recycling. (C) (i) The name of the ultimate consignee to which the exempted electronic waste items were received for reclamation, recall, or reuse; and (ii) documentation and a declaration that such consignee has the necessary permits, resources, and competence to manage the exempted electronic waste items as reusable products or recyclable feedstock and prevent its release as a counterfeit good or counterfeit military good. (3) Compliance with existing export laws The export or reexport of exempted electronic waste items otherwise comply with applicable international agreements to which the United States is a party and with other trade laws of the United States. (4) Export declarations and requirements The exempted electronic waste items are accompanied by— (A) documentation of the registration of the exporter required under paragraph (1); (B) a declaration signed by an officer or designated representative of the exporter asserting that the exempted electronic waste items meet the applicable requirements for exempted electronic waste items under this section; (C) a description of the contents and condition of the exempted electronic waste items in the shipment; (D) for tested, working electronic equipment, a description of the testing methodologies and test results for each item; (E) the name of the ultimate consignee and declaration of the consignee’s applicable permits, resources, and competence to process or use the equipment as intended; and (F) with respect to low-risk counterfeit electronics only and when required by the importing country, the written consent of the competent authority of the receiving country to allow the products in such country. (d) Other exceptions The Secretary may provide for such exceptions to the requirements of this section for— (1) exports or reexports of 5 items or fewer per transaction of electronic components, or items containing electronic components, that are intended for personal use, and (2) exports or reexports of electronic components, or items containing electronic components, that are made to a person or entity under the ownership or control of the person or entity exporting or reexporting the components or items, subject to such recordkeeping requirements as the Secretary may impose, but only if the components or items are exported or reexported (as the case may be) with the intent that they be used for the purpose for which the components or items (as the case may be) were used in the United States. (e) Effective date (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), this section shall take effect upon the expiration of the 1-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Modification of ear The Secretary shall, not later than the effective date under paragraph (1), ensure that the Export Administration Regulations are modified to carry out this section. (f) Penalties for violations Any person who violates this section or the regulations issued under subsection (e)(2) shall be subject to the same penalties as those that apply to any person violating any other provision of the Export Administration Regulations.

Summary: Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act This bill prohibits any person from exporting or reexporting electronic waste (specified items containing electronic components or fragments, including computers, televisions, video display devices, and consumer electronics) or exempted electronic waste items (tested, working used electronics, low-risk counterfeit electronics, or recalled electronics), except as specified. "Low-risk counterfeit electronics" means electronic components or items that: (1) have been subjected to destruction processes that render the items unusable for their original purpose; and (2) are exported as a feedstock, with no additional mechanical or hand separation required, in a reclamation process to render the components or items recycled consistent with the laws of the foreign country performing such process. A person may export or reexport exempted electronic waste items only if: the person is listed on a publicly available registry maintained by the Department of Commerce; for each export transaction, the person files specified electronic export information in the Automated Export System; the export or reexport of exempted electronic waste items otherwise complies with applicable international agreements and other U.S. trade laws; and the exempted items are accompanied by certain required documentation. Commerce may provide exceptions to the requirements of this bill under specified circumstances for exports or reexports of five items or fewer per transaction of electronic components intended for personal use, and of electronic components to a person or entity under the ownership or control of the person exporting or reexporting the components, with the intent that they be used for the purpose for which they were used in the United States. Any violator of this bill or regulations issued under it shall be subject to the same penalties as those applicable to violators of any other provision of the Export Administration Regulations.