According to the committee, the directive should be based on article 95 of the EU treaty rather than article 175, so setting harmonised rather than minimum standards. In this case, member states would have to seek EU approval before exceeding recycling targets set by the directive.
Observers say the demand has little chance of survival.
It would also contradict European Court of Justice case law in the area, another source said. If this occurs then EU member states would be able to introduce substances restrictions earlier than the 2008 date proposed by the Commission. Other changes to the WEEE directive proposed by the parliament's industry committee on Tuesday were for introduction of producer financial responsibility after three rather than five years, and for exemption of small businesses from collection requirements. The committee sought no substantial changes to provisions on financing or recycling and recovery targets. Meanwhile, the parliament's environment committee also debated the WEEE and RoS proposals on Tuesday.