Europaudvalget 2017
KOM (2017) 0038
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EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
Brussels, 26.1.2017
SWD(2017) 23 final
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT
IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Accompanying the document
Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE
COUNCIL
amending Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous
substances in electrical and electronic equipment
{COM(2017) 38 final}
{SWD(2017) 22 final}
EN
EN
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
POLICY CONTEXT, PROBLEM DEFINITION AND SUBSIDIARITY ................ 8
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
Policy context .................................................................................................... 8
Secondary market problem................................................................................ 8
Spare parts problem ......................................................................................... 10
Pipe organs problem ........................................................................................ 11
Non-road mobile machinery problem ............................................................. 11
The EU's right to act and justification ............................................................. 13
2
3
OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................... 13
POLICY OPTIONS................................................................................................... 14
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
Baseline scenario ............................................................................................. 14
Options for the secondary market problem ..................................................... 15
Options for the spare parts problem ................................................................ 15
Options for the pipe organs problem ............................................................... 16
Options for the non-road mobile machinery problem ..................................... 16
Public consultation .......................................................................................... 17
Impacts of the baseline scenario...................................................................... 18
Secondary market problem.............................................................................. 22
Spare parts problem ......................................................................................... 24
Pipe organs problem ........................................................................................ 26
Non-road mobile machinery problem ............................................................. 28
Secondary market problem.............................................................................. 30
Spare parts problem ......................................................................................... 31
Pipe organs problem ........................................................................................ 33
Non-road mobile machinery problem ............................................................. 34
4
ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS ....................................................................................... 17
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
5
COMPARING THE OPTIONS ................................................................................ 30
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
6
7
MONITORING AND EVALUATION .................................................................... 35
ANNEXES ................................................................................................................ 36
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
Annex 1 Procedural information ..................................................................... 36
Annex 2 Stakeholder consultation................................................................... 38
Annex 3 Who is affected by the initiative and how ........................................ 45
Annex 4 Case studies on secondary market operations and spare parts use
for certain newly in scope product groups ...................................................... 46
Annex 5 Quantitative data on pipe organs ...................................................... 61
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Glossary of Abbreviations
EEE:
Electrical and electronic equipment
IASG:
Impact Assessment Steering Group
NRMM:
non-road mobile machinery
RoHS:
Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and
electronic equipment
RoHS 1:
Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
RoHS 2:
Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council
SME:
Small and medium-sized enterprise
WEEE:
Waste electrical and electronic equipment
WEEE Directive:
Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste
electrical and electronic equipment
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Introduction
Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2) lays down rules on the restriction of the use of certain
hazardous substances
1
in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). RoHS 2 provisions
apply to EEE placed on the EU market regardless whether they are produced in the EU or
in third countries and then imported into the EU market. The production of EEE is a
globalised activity which takes place in many countries across the world. Thus, RoHS 2
affects mainly industrial manufacturers, importers and distributors of EEE, and, to a lower
extent, also EEE customers.
RoHS is a directive implementing the highest priority of the waste hierarchy, which is
waste prevention. Waste prevention is defined, inter alia, as measures that reduce the
content of harmful substances in materials and products. The decrease of hazardous
substances in waste EEE benefits the waste EEE management as a result. This type of
prevention promotes the reuse of products and the recycling of used materials, thus
promoting the circular economy in the sector.
RoHS 2 is necessary to prevent barriers to trade and distortion of competition in the Union,
which could have been generated by disparities between the laws or administrative
measures if these were adopted individually by the Member States and to contribute to the
protection of human health and the environmentally sound recovery and disposal of waste
EEE and, at the same time.
RoHS has stimulated a global change in hazardous materials reduction: several third
countries, including China, Korea, US, have developed RoHS-like legislation.
Issues introduced by the recast
RoHS 2 is a recast of the earlier RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC. It introduced new definitions
and expanded the scope to cover medical devices and monitoring and control instruments.
These provisions were already impact assessed with the Commission’s proposal in 2008.
However, RoHS 2 also introduced further changes: the 'open scope' by, firstly, introducing
a new category 11 "Other EEE not covered by any of the other categories"
2
, so that the
Directive became applicable to all EEE and, secondly, a broader interpretation of EEE as a
result of a new definition of the dependency on electricity. These open scope provisions
were introduced during the codecision procedure of the recast and they were not
specifically impact assessed.
RoHS 2 Article 2(4) provides a 10-entry list of specific equipment which is excluded from
the new scope
3
; this list defines the only EEE currently not under the scope of the new
Directive.
1
The ten substances restricted under RoHS 2 are namely: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium,
polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP),
butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) the restriction of DEHP,
BBP, DBP and DIBP will apply from 22 July 2019; other substances could be restricted in future. The
substances covered by RoHS 2 are scientifically well researched and evaluated and have been subject to different
measures both at Union and at national level.
2
The eleven categories of EEE are large household appliances (category 1), small household appliances
(category 2), IT and telecommunications equipment (category 3), consumer equipment (category 4), lighting
equipment (category 5), electrical and electronic tools (category 6), toys, leisure and sports equipment (category
7), medical devices (category 8), monitoring and control instruments including industrial monitoring and control
instruments (category 9), automatic dispensers (category 10), and other EEE not covered by any of the categories
above (category 11).
3
The ten RoHS explicit exclusions are in short: military equipment, equipment to be sent into space, equipment
that is only part of excluded equipment, large-scale stationary industrial tools, large-scale fixed installations,
means of transport for persons or goods, professional non-road mobile machinery, active implantable medical
devices, photovoltaic panels, research and development equipment. These are the only EEE that at the moment
do not fall under the scope of RoHS 2.
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5
Moreover, to ease the phasing-in of the additional EEE that had been introduced through
the open scope, RoHS 2 provides for a transitional arrangement until 22 July 2019 for
electrical and electronic equipment that was outside the scope of RoHS 1 and that is now in
scope of RoHS 2
4
. The phase-in transition allows that new-in-scope EEE can still be
placed and circulated on the EU market until 22 July 2019, even if they contain restricted
substances. However, undesired implications of this provision hampering secondary
market operations have been discovered after the publication of RoHS 2. As pointed out in
the strategy on the circular economy recently proposed by the Commission,
5
in most cases
the extension of the EEE life-time via repair, resale and refurbishment is both
economically and ecologically desirable and a positive contribution to resource efficiency.
The review of RoHS 2
RoHS 2 Article 24(1) mandates the Commission to examine the need to amend the scope
of this Directive in respect of the EEE definition and of additional exclusions of product
groups covered by RoHS 2 by virtue of the open scope introduced with the 2011 recast.
The current Impact Assessment builds upon the Impact Assessment carried out prior to the
RoHS recast. It responds to the mandate of Article 24(1) of RoHS 2 and takes into account,
in addition, the impact assessment studies commissioned on the previously unassessed
scope-related provisions in RoHS 2. A list of undertaken studies and analyses is presented
in 7.1
Annex 1 Procedural
information
.
A general review of the Directive is required to be carried out by 22 July 2021, as required
by Article 24(2).
Exemption mechanism under RoHS providing for flexibility
Under the RoHS 2 Directive, time-limited exemptions from substance restrictions can be
granted for specific applications when the conditions spelled out in Article 5(1) of the
Directive are met: if a substance substitute does not exist, if existing substitutes are not
reliable or if they are worst in terms of overall impact. This flexible mechanism is a useful
solution for product groups covered by RoHS, where the substitution of the restricted
substances needs more time to take place, thus allowing a gradual application of the
restriction. While already a single market operator only can request an exemption, the
mechanism allows all market operators to use existing exemptions. This possibility in
particular is beneficial for SMEs as they can rely on exemptions requested through
industrial associations, thus limiting the burden on individual operators.
Additionally, to assist in the implementation of the Directive, guidance on interpretation of
RoHS with regard to specific product groups was drafted following consultation of
stakeholders and with the help of experts. Such guidance is given regularly
6
to cover issues
of interpretation relating to product groups under RoHS 2.
As confirmed by stakeholders during the development of the scope-related studies and by
the Member States RoHS experts
7
, exemptions
8
and guidance have been used adequately
4
5
From now on, "new-in-scope EEE"; see RoHS 2 Article 2(2)).
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/index_en.htm
6
The RoHS FAQ document is publicly available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/pdf/faq.pdf
7
http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regexpert/index.cfm?do=groupDetail.groupDetail&groupID=2810,
and
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6
and effectively for issues related to several products groups, including those facing the
upcoming RoHS restriction. Thus, considering the possibilities given by the exemption
mechanism and guidance, as well as the Impact Assessment studies
9
, which were
developed with comprehensive public and targeted stakeholder consultation, no problems
were identified for the following new-in-scope product groups or areas, which have been
confirmed as not needing to be formally excluded from RoHS 2:
Gas water heaters with electrical function;
Combustion powered (garden) equipment for non-professional or dual use;
Electric windows, doors and gates;
Cables as finished EEE;
Complex air conditioning systems;
Fuse boxes;
Electric two-wheel vehicles which are not type-approved (i.e. electric bicycles);
Furniture with an integrated electrical function;
Light switches, power wall sockets;
Power switches;
Safes;
Swimming pools for home use with pumps included;
Toys with minor electrical functions;
Power generation sets;
Refurbishment of medical devices;
Towed machineries for the agriculture (covered by existing exclusion of Article 4(c)).
Therefore, this Impact Assessment focuses on how best to address the residual identified
issues that cannot be dealt with either by substance substitution or by exemptions and
guidance, e.g. for specific product groups with permanently unresolvable compliance
problem or when scope provisions generate market distortions.
Other related existing policies have been considered within the assessment. RoHS 2 and
the REACH regulation are consistent in terms of policy interaction, working efficiently in
synergy: this is expressed in several recitals and provisions of RoHS 2, e.g. a coherence
provision with REACH is provided for both to restrict new substances (RoHS 2 Article
6(1)) and to grant exemptions from restriction (RoHS 2 Article 5(1)). Guidance to explain
how the interface is to be managed, particularly in view of potential overlaps in the scope
of this legislation, is provided in the Common Understanding Paper drawn up by the
Commission and endorsed by the Member States on the interface between REACH and
8
9
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/adaptation_en.htm
A summary for each of the product groups is given in the studies, i.e. in section 6.1 of the study
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/pdf/1.%20Biois%20study%20-
%20RoHS_II_IA_Final%20Report.pdf;
in
section
2.10
and
3.8
of
the
study
http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/reports/201406012_RoHS_Scope_Review_report_final.
pdf;
and in sections 2.6, 3.7, 3.8, 4.10 and 4.11 of the study
http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/reports/20150312_RoHS_scope_review_final_a.pdf,
in
addition to the general 2008 study
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee/pdf/ia_report.pdf.
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7
Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS)
10
. This Common Understanding Paper is fully in line with
Better Regulation principles and represents the Commission’s response to the need,
recognised in the 2013 REACH Review, “to avoid any possible future overlaps or
inconsistencies with restrictions laid down in EU sector-specific legislation”. RoHS 2 is
furthermore consistent with other legislation on waste, such as in particular Directive
2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste electrical and
electronic equipment (WEEE) and Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and
of the Council on end-of life vehicles (ELV)). Despite the name, the Non-road mobile
machinery (NRMM) directive
11
is not specifically linked to RoHS 2, which excludes
NRMM from its scope. Both directives have different NRMM definitions; however, this is
not considered an inconsistency as they have a different purpose: the first directive
regulates the combustion emissions from NRMM engines, while RoHS 2 regulates
hazardous substances used in EEE.
This initiative is not part of the REFIT agenda. No recently adopted initiatives or other
initiatives under preparation touch upon the same problems.
10
11
http://ec.europa.eu/DocsRoom/documents/5804/attachments/1/translations/en/renditions/native
Directive 97/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
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8
1
1.1
P
OLICY CONTEXT
,
PROBLEM DEFINITION AND SUBSIDIARITY
Policy context
This impact assessment assesses policy options to reduce unnecessary burden on industry
from unintended side-effects of the open scope provisions of RoHS 2, while promoting a
circular economy in the sector and maintaining a high level of environmental and health
protection.
This report provides an in-depth assessment on how best to address the problems
identified, which cannot be solved by means of substance substitution or through granting
exemptions and providing guidance, as explained in the introduction. These issues have
been identified and confirmed by the studies and stakeholder consultations, and relate to
specific product groups where compliance with RoHS 2 cannot be achieved and to
situations of market distortions caused by scope provisions, namely:
Secondary market operations for RoHS 2 EEE which were not in scope of RoHS 1;
Spare parts for RoHS 2 EEE which were not in scope of RoHS 1;
Pipe organs;
Cord-connected non-road mobile machinery.
While all these problems are scope-related, they are not directly linked with each other and
can only be solved independently; consequently, possible impacts and options will be
analysed individually.
1.2
Secondary market problem
One of the key principles of RoHS 2 and other EU product legislation is the protection
from retroactive measures
12
(in RoHS 2 the substance restriction applies only at the first
time an EEE is made available on the EU market). This means that when legal
requirements, including substance restrictions, apply to a product from a certain date and
an individual product of this type is lawfully placed on the EU market before that date, the
same product can continue to be circulated in the EU market after that date without having
to respect the meanwhile applicable legal requirements. In such case, all secondary market
operations, such as the reselling of used EEE, would, irrespective of their date, be
unaffected by the obligations of RoHS 2. In general, the extension of the lifetime of a
functioning product is indeed both economically and environmentally beneficial.
13
However, as per Article 2(2) RoHS 2, Member States shall provide that EEE that was
outside the scope of RoHS 1, but which would not comply with RoHS 2, may nevertheless
continue to be made available on the market until 22 July 2019, without prejudice of the
specific provisions established for medical devices and monitoring and control
instruments. This transitional period applies to the placement on the market for
new-in-scope EEE other than medical devices and monitoring and control instruments.
However, it also sets an end date to all market operations (including the first) for all
12
13
See Blue Guide,
http://ec.europa.eu/DocsRoom/documents/16210
p. 20
The impact assessment for the “secondary market” issue is based on the above mentioned 2014 Oeko-Institut
study. For further information and references see the following report:
http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/reports/201406012_RoHS_Scope_Review_report_final.
pdf.
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new-in-scope EEE (including medical devices and monitoring and control instruments)
that do not meet the RoHS 2 requirements. Indeed, there is no other provision in RoHS that
would allow these products to be made available on the market (i.e. placed on the market
or any subsequent market operation) after 22 July 2019. As for medical devices and
monitoring and control instruments product group, Article 4(3)
14
only additionally limits
the time window for the placing on the market of non-compliant equipment in this group,
but does not allow for secondary market operations beyond 22 July 2019.
Therefore, as a result of the current wording of Article 2(2) and Article 4(3), products that
are affected by the problematic 'hard-stop' of secondary market operations are medical
devices, monitoring and control instruments and other new-in-scope EEE captured by
category 11.
Data on the contribution of EEE production to the economy shows that the value of
production has remained quite stable in its ratio to GDP, amounting to around 7% in 2012.
Sector specific quantification is given for selected cases in 7.4 Annex 4 Case studies on
secondary market operations and spare parts use for certain newly in scope product groups.
The industry most impacted by the secondary market hard-stop would be the sector
producing long-life high-priced EEE. Examples are:
a) Medical devices and monitoring and control instruments:
EEE in this product group are high-priced high-tech equipment with an average lifetime of
ten years and beyond. They very often get refurbished and resold at around half of their
expected lifetime. The industry impacted by the hard-stop of secondary market operations
is firstly the medical device industry which often proposes also product lines of used
repaired or refurbished products.
15
Non-compliant products were allowed to be placed on the EU market until 21 July 2014.
16
The typical business scenario sees the customer sending a device bought before 2014 to a
refurbisher authorised by the manufacturer five or six years later, and replacing it with a
new model from the same manufacturer. Refurbishment of these products not complying
with RoHS 2 and recirculation after 22 July 2019 would however be an infringement of the
Directive due to the hard-stop of secondary market operations. If this legal constraint
remains unchanged, this will result in reducing the lifetime of many products on the
market.
14
Article 4(3) states that the restriction "shall apply to medical devices and monitoring and control instruments
which are placed on the market from 22 July 2014, to in vitro diagnostic medical devices which are placed on the
market from 22 July 2016 and to industrial monitoring and control instruments which are placed on the market
from 22 July 2017."
15
Under the medical devices legislation, the term “fully refurbished” exists. “Fully refurbished” products are
assimilated to new products. The proposed new Regulation on medical devices adopted by the Commission on
26 September 2012 defines "fully refurbishment" as follows: "the complete rebuilding of a device already placed
on the market or put into service, or the making of a new device from used devices, to bring it in conformity with
this Regulation, combined with the assignment of a new lifetime to the refurbished device". For any
refurbishment other than "fully refurbishment", the person who carries out the refurbishment holds the
responsibility to verify whether or not, in the light of the changes done, the refurbished product should be
considered as a new product and, where applicable, undergo a new conformity assessment procedure.
16
Article 4(3)
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Strong industrial actors in the sector are based in the EU, but medical devices and the spare
parts production, as well as the repairs, takes place also in third countries as this market is
global.
17
b) New-in-scope equipment other than medical devices and monitoring and control
instruments:
The hard stop of secondary market operations will also apply to a very diverse range of
other products
18
, including furniture with integrated electric functions, swimming pools,
lawnmowers with electric ignition, electric bicycles, electric windows and sport shoes with
lights. While this might be irrelevant for e.g. sport shoes, it is indeed an issue for high-
priced long-life products, especially if they have only been placed on the market close
before 22 July 2019.
In short:
21 July 2014-21 July 2019
From 22 July 2019 onwards
Medical devices and may not be sold if non- Secondary market not allowed
monitoring
and compliant but secondary market for non-compliant EEE
control instruments
possible
Other newly in scope may be sold if non-compliant Secondary market not allowed
EEE
and secondary market possible
for non-compliant EEE
1.3
Spare parts problem
The possibility to repair a product placed on the EU market with a view to reusing or
reselling it (repair-as-produced principle) underpins EU product legislation
19
, including
RoHS 2. This means that when specific legal requirements such as substance restrictions
apply to a type of product from a specified date and an individual product of this type is
placed on the EU market before that date, it can be repaired or upgraded with spare parts in
the EU after that date without having to respect the meanwhile applicable legal
requirements.
20
Once an individual product is placed on the EU market and it is therefore
compliant with the applicable legal requirements at the time, all its spare parts are
unaffected by the obligations of RoHS irrespective of the date of repair, upgrade, etc. The
reasoning behind this is that in most cases the extension of the lifetime of a functional
product is both economically and environmentally beneficial.
However, after 22 July 2019, RoHS 2 new-in-scope products other than medical devices
and monitoring and control instruments can only be repaired with RoHS 2-compliant spare
parts and only if the repair is not part of a secondary market operation (i.e. not for
reselling).
17
For example, see COCIR members,
http://www.cocir.org/index.php?id=131.
In any case, RoHS applies
equally to imported equipment.
18
In RoHS 2 these products will be grouped in Category 11, "other EEE"
19
See the Blue guide, which provides horizontal interpretation on the principles for the Union harmonisation
legislation on products, p. 17-21:
http://ec.europa.eu/DocsRoom/documents/4942/attachments/1/translations/en/renditions/native
20
The “spare parts” impact assessment is based on the above mentioned 2014 Eunomia/Oeko-Institut study. For
further information and references see
http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/reports/201406012_RoHS_Scope_Review_report_final.
pdf.
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11
Experience shows that it is often difficult and sometimes impossible to replace an original
non-compliant part with a different, compliant spare part. As product reuse, refurbishment
and extension of lifetime are both environmentally and economically beneficial, spare parts
need to be sufficiently available.
21
1.4
Pipe organs problem
Today 99% of pipe organs
22
built use at least one electric blower. Some use other electrical
or electronic components, all of which are compliant with RoHS 2. However, the presence
of the electrical components used in pipe organs makes the whole organ, including the
pipes, fall under the RoHS 2 scope. Indeed, RoHS 2 introduced an EEE definition
23
where
the word “dependent” means “necessary to fulfil at least one intended function”, and it
added a product category “other EEE”
24
to which pipe organs pertain. The combination of
these provisions means that pipe organs are in the scope of RoHS 2, with full compliance
requirements from 22 July 2019 for the whole product, pipes included.
25
The vast majority of pipes are made of lead alloys. The variation of lead and tin is used to
vary the timbre of the organ sounds. No other material can be manufactured in the same
way as the tin/lead alloy, meaning that there are no substitutes to the lead in organ pipes
and neither can the product be modified for it to fulfil its intended function. The key
problem will then be the use of lead, a substance restricted by RoHS, in the pipes alloy.
If the legal situation remains unchanged, pipe organs containing lead will be non-
compliant products under RoHS 2, due to a lack of possible substitutes for lead. Therefore,
they cannot be placed on the EU market as from 22 July 2019 leading to the loss of jobs
and market shares in this sector. The industry affected would be the organ builders industry
and the cultural business of organ music concerts. As of today, there is no indication of
health and environmental problem generated by the production and use of pipe organs,
which are a product with an extremely long life.
1.5
Non-road mobile machinery problem
Non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) is excluded from the scope of RoHS 2 when made
available exclusively for professional use.
26
Certain types of machinery are produced in the same production line in models either with
an on-board power source or with an external power source; see for example, Figure 1,
21
22
See RoHS recital (20); this in line with the promotion of a circular economy.
The “pipe organs” impact assessment is based on the 2012 BioIS study:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/pdf/1.%20Biois%20study%20-
%20RoHS_II_IA_Final%20Report.pdf.
For further information and references see 7.5 Annex 5 Quantitative
data on pipe organs and the factsheet no. 9 Pipe organs in:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/pdf/RoHS%20website%20documents.zip
23
Art. 3(1) ‘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 such currents and fields and designed for use with a voltage rating not exceeding 1 000 volts for
alternating current and 1 500 volts for direct current;
24
Annex I, entry 11 “Other EEE not covered by any of the categories above”
25
Under RoHS 1 pipe organs were formally excluded from the scope of the directive. Also in the Commission
RoHS recast proposal of 2008, pipe organs installed in churches were then officially listed as excluded. Due to
the new and broader definition of EEE in RoHS 2, as from July 2019 if no changes are introduced, pipe organs
that require electricity will fall in the scope of this Directive and the restriction will apply to all components, also
non-electrical ones, on the homogeneous material level.
26
See Article 3(28) and Article 2(4)(g) of RoHS 2. The “NRMM” impact assessment is based on the 2015
Eunomia/Oeko-Institut study:
http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/reports/20150312_RoHS_scope_review_final_a.pdf
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12
Figure 2, and Figure 3. In light of the reference of the Article 3(28) definition to an
on-board power source,
27
only the models with an on-board power source are excluded
from the scope of RoHS 2, while the twin models with external power source fall under
RoHS 2 scope.
Figure 1: Pictures of identical machines with an on-board power source and
cord-connected for professional use
Relevant product groups for the latter include professional cleaning machinery (see Figure
1) and certain types of construction or mining machinery (see Figure 2 and Figure 3).
Figure 2: Example of NRMM without on-board power source: concrete spraying machine
used in mining
Market quantities of relevant machinery product groups (i.e. where a scope-excluded
model is also produced with a scope-included version) are:
Professional cleaning machinery: estimates of over 70,000 units placed on the EU
market per annum, with a distribution between models with an on-board power source
and models without (cord connected) of 80:20. Most manufacturers are assumed to be
close in size to SMEs or possibly slightly larger.
Construction or mining machinery: several types of machinery used primarily in
mining are practically identical to diesel- or gas-powered NRMM in every other
respect, excepted for the electrical power system replacing the on-board power source.
27
Battery or combustion engine
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13
Figure 3: Example of NRMM without on-board power source: a wheel loader used in
mining
The current NRMM definition would thus lead, after 22 July 2019, to a situation resulting
in very similar types of equipment being regulated differently and inconsistently.
1.6
The EU's right to act and justification
The legal basis of the RoHS 2 directive and of this initiative is Article 114 of the Treaty on
the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the objective of which is to harmonise
national laws and to ensure that the same rules are applicable throughout the Union. This
initiative concerns a review of a Directive required by Article 24(1) of the Directive itself
and is therefore justified on the grounds of subsidiarity.
The problems highlighted cannot be solved without changing the scope of RoHS 2, as they
originate in the current legal formulation of the RoHS 2 scope and related provisions. Only
a solution at EU level can solve the problems, as provisions regarding the restriction of the
use of hazardous substances in EEE have a direct impact on the EU internal market and
cannot be solved at Member States' level.
2
O
BJECTIVES
The general, specific and operational objectives of this initiative are presented in Table 1.
Table 1: Objectives
GENERAL
SPECIFIC
OPERATIONAL
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14
The contribution
to the protection of
human health and
the environment,
including
the
environmentally
sound
recovery
and disposal of
waste
EEE,
through
the
restriction of the
use of certain
hazardous
substances.
The correct and
regular
functioning of the
Union
internal
market in relation
to electrical and
electronic
equipment
products
by
preventing barriers
to
trade
and
competition
distortion.
Removing unnecessary
barriers to secondary
market operations, so
to promote a circular
economy for the EEE
sector in the Union
Exclusions from the
scope
of
product
groups
with
unresolvable
compliance problems
and negligible benefits
from their inclusion
into RoHS 2 scope.
Preventing distortion
in the second hand
operations
(repair,
reselling) for products
already placed on the
Union internal market.
Prevent
inconsistent
treatment of almost
identical
machinery
placed on the Union
internal market.
Allow second hand operations
for all EEE in scope
Exclude pipe organs product
group from the scope of RoHS 2.
Exclude from restriction spare
parts for repair for all EEE.
Clarify the scope of RoHS 2,
with adjustments to Article 2(2),
Article 4(3), and Article 4(4).
Fine-tune the definition of
NRMM in Article 3(28) to
prevent unbalanced treatment of
almost identical machineries.
3
3.1
P
OLICY
O
PTIONS
Baseline scenario
The baseline scenario with no policy changes (also referenced in the next sections as the
policy Option 1) will develop as follows in relation to the four problems
28
:
In the secondary market baseline scenario
29
spill-over effects due to similarities in the
production chains between products already in scope of RoHS 1 and products newly in
scope of RoHS 2 should facilitate compliance. Indeed, even in the baseline scenario,
manufacturers are making efforts to reach compliance before the 2019 deadline.
30
Product life corresponds with design cycles, and shorter design cycles should again
facilitate substance substitution and compliance. Also, the list of already available
exemptions from the substance restrictions, in Annexes III and IV of RoHS 2, facilitates
compliance. It can hence be assumed that some products newly in scope are already
28
29
See also Sections 0 to 0 for further information on the problems which the current scenario will face.
For case studies on secondary market operations for articles with integrated lighting, equipment with an
internal combustion engine, gardening equipment, and toys newly in scope, see 7.4
Annex 4 Case studies
on secondary market operations and spare parts use for certain newly in scope product groups.
30
For example, entry 41 in Annex III is a specific exemption requested for a product newly in scope; this
exemption was added by a Commission delegated directive in March 2014.
kom (2017) 0038 - Ingen titel
15
compliant and therefore not impacted by the hard-stop of secondary market operations.
Several other products will however be impacted, especially high-value, long-lifetime
products.
As for the spare part problem, the potential lifetime of many affected products on the
market will be reduced.
Pipe organ builders will have to abandon the production of pipe organs of the traditional
type and quality before the 22 July 2019 compliance date. Existing pipe organs can
continue to be used, but it will be impossible to both sell and resell pipe organs, as well
as repair them with spare parts after 2019.
NRMM manufacturers will have to adapt their production either by creating two
different lines for almost identical machinery or by becoming RoHS 2-compliant also for
out-of-scope NRMM towards the 22 July 2019 compliance date.
Options for the secondary market problem
3.2
The key problem is the curtailment of the potential lifetime of operational EEE and the
negative economic consequences thereof, due to the hard-stop of secondary market operations
for new-in-scope products. Article 2(2) prevents the recirculation of non-compliant products
after 22 July 2019 even if they were placed on the market before this date. The following
policy options were developed and discussed in the early steps of the impact assessment:
Option 2 – the exclusion of medical devices and monitoring and control instruments,
from the scope of the Article 2(2) transition period, thus preventing specific negative
impacts on medical devices and monitoring and control instruments resale and
refurbishment;
Option 3 – the removal of the hard stop to secondary market operations for all new in
scope EEE, including medical devices and monitoring and control instruments: this
entails the transformation of the transition period into a compliance phase in
requirement for the placing on the market of new in scope EEE in Article 4(3).
Option 2
is based on the assumption that medical devices and monitoring and control
instruments would be the product groups with the longest life (10 years if no secondary
market is allowed, up to 30 years in case of refurbishment) and innovation cycles (e.g. 7
years) and therefore most affected by the 2019 secondary market hard-stop. Stakeholder
input showed however that also other product groups (e.g. certain articles with integrated
lighting, certain equipment with an internal combustion engine, certain gardening
equipment, or certain toys; in general, all EEE pertaining to category 11, "other EEE")
were equally affected. While option 2 would solve the problems related to medical devices
and monitoring and control instruments (e.g. supply-related patient health issues), it does
not tackle the problems with the other new-in-scope products, e.g. some articles with
integrated lighting such as post boxes, souvenirs, shoes, signs, music instruments, doors,
windows, and mirrors; some equipment with an internal combustion engine, some
gardening equipment, as illustrated by the case studies in Annex 2. Therefore,
Option 2
would not effectively solve the problem and is not retained for further assessment.
Option 3
does not discriminate between the various product groups newly in scope, while
leaving the original compliance date unchanged.
3.3
Options for the spare parts problem
The key problem is the curtailment of the potential lifetime of functional/repairable EEE and
the negative economic consequences thereof, as a consequence of impeding repair operations
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16
for products newly in scope through replacement of broken parts. The main reason is the lack
of a specific repair-as-produced
31
spare part provision in the Directive. The policy option
identified in the early steps of the impact assessment is:
Option 2 – the introduction of a specific provision, which excludes from restriction the
spare parts concerned, in order to allow the repair of pre-RoHS 2 EEE with pre-RoHS
2 spare parts.
32
Option 2
introduces a repair-as-produced provision, which, for the sake of legal clarity and
enforceability, needs to be fully aligned with the product compliance date.
3.4
Options for the pipe organs problem
The key question regarding pipe organs is whether the product group should be kept within
the scope of RoHS 2, assuming that organ builders will not be able to change the nature of
their product.
The policy options identified in the early steps of the impact assessment were:
Option 2 – scope exclusion for pipe organs, thus removing them from the scope of
RoHS 2;
Option 3 – issuing guidelines on applicable existing exclusions to pipe organs (e.g.
large-scale fixed installations);
Option 4 – the use of temporary RoHS 2 exemptions for pipe organs which remain in
RoHS 2 scope.
Option 3
was discussed to verify whether larger church organs would fall within the
category of "large-scale fixed installation",
33
which is excluded from the RoHS 2 scope,
and whether additional scope exclusion would be redundant. It was considered that the
"large-scale fixed installation" definition allows room for interpretation and Member State
positions on this issue tend to vary. This could lead to a market distortion and make
enforcement nearly impossible. Moreover, this would discriminate against manufacturers
of smaller organs for no apparent scientific or technical reason. Thus,
option 3 was
discarded and it is not retained for further analysis.
Option 4
was discussed to verify whether it was possible to keep pipe organs in scope, as
manufacturers could always apply for an exemption of lead in the organ pipes. However,
the RoHS 2 exemption mechanism is meant to allow adaptation to technical and scientific
progress, whereas pipe organs have not changed significantly over hundreds of years.
Hence, an exemption is not appropriate to address the reality of the sector and it would
constitute an unnecessary financial burden. Thus
option 4 was discarded and it is not
retained for further analysis.
3.5
Options for the non-road mobile machinery problem
The key question regarding NRMM is whether its definition should be broadened to
exclude cord-connected twin machinery from the RoHS scope.
The policy options identified in the early steps of the impact assessment were:
31
32
See section 0
Pre-RoHS 2 means placed on the EU market before the RoHS 2 requirements applied to the relevant product
category and therefore potentially containing restricted substances beyond the (post-enforcement) tolerated
limit values.
33
Article 3(4)
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17
Option 1 – the baseline scenario with no policy changes;
Option 2 – a change in the NRMM definition so that the NRMM exclusion covers also
external source powered machinery models fitted with a traction drive.
Option 2
would consistently exclude all the NRMM, from RoHS 2 scope, whether its
power source is on board or external.
4
A
NALYSIS OF
I
MPACTS
This chapter provides the analysis of the impacts for the different options; the baseline
scenario (i.e. "no policy change" Option 1) is described as whole in section .
Quantification is provided for impacts in the pipe organs and NRMM problems, while in the
secondary market and spare parts problem, the limitation of quantification is due to
uncertainty in quantifying the following aspects:
The open scope: the split between EEE already in scope of RoHS 1 and EEE newly in
scope in terms of quantity, value and influence on the market is quite difficult. This is
because, for some products, certain models may fall under the old scope and others
under the new, with no distinction in terms of activity classification. This brings a
severe level of uncertainty in quantifying the EEE subject to the secondary market
hard stop.
The secondary market is generally possible for EEE in category 1 to 7 and 10, while
for EEE newly in scope (e.g. medical devices - cat. 8, monitoring and control
instruments – cat. 9 and any other EEE not belonging to the other categories – cat. 11)
will be stopped after the transition period. Quantifying amount of EEE (as a
percentage of those subject to the hard stop) which will be subject to
refurbishment/reselling/repair is also difficult and aleatory, as it will depend on market
evolution and public budget conditions (e.g. for medical devices).
Refurbishment of medical devices is a global scale business; thus it is very complex
also to split this business between the two flows: refurbished EEE from third countries
(which would be placed as new EEE in the EU), and refurbished EEE coming from
the EU (which would count as secondary market EEE). Additionally, under medical
devices legislation, the term “fully refurbished” exists. “Fully refurbished” products
are assimilated to new products.
Some EEE can be resold without being repaired or refurbished.
4.1
Public consultation
The results of the public consultation are presented in detail throughout the analysis of the
impacts, which is based on the Commission studies.
34
Further information is provided in 7.2
Annex 2 Stakeholder consultation.
Stakeholders were intensely consulted during the development of these studies by means of a
dedicated website, three stakeholder consultations of 12-weeks and four stakeholder meetings
through the years 2012-2015.
More than three hundred contacts were reached for the consultation, including independent
experts, representatives from Member States, industry associations, manufacturers of EEE,
environmental NGOs, consultancy companies and institutes, and other types of organisations
(e.g. universities). Overall, responses from around forty participants were received.
Respondents were in essence private companies, associations representing industrial
34
Footnotes 51, 52, and 53.
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18
companies, including SMEs, third countries or global bodies/associations and Member States
authorities/agencies, while response rate from academic/research institutions, NGOs,
consumer associations or individual citizens, despite invitations and promotion given on the
initiative, was low. This response pattern with contributions coming almost only from
industrial and institutional stakeholders is frequent under RoHS, despite the constant effort to
reach also different audience through public consultation.
When asked about their preferences, a majority of the respondents preferred: for secondary
market problem, the removal of the hard stop to secondary market operations for all
new-in-scope EEE and the transformation of the transition period into a compliance phase-in
requirement by the same date; for the spare parts problem, the introduction of a repair-as-
produced provision; for the pipe organs problem, a scope exclusion provision for pipe organs;
for the NRMM problem, the exclusion from RoHS scope of cord-connected twin machinery.
These are seen as efficient, effective and safe solutions.
4.2
Impacts of the baseline scenario
Secondary market
Possible
environmental impacts
result from a reduction in the use of banned substances (a
positive environmental impact) versus a reduction of product lifetime (a negative
environmental impact), and shifting of sales abroad. The baseline scenario should ensure that
by the end of 2019 all new-in-scope products are compliant with RoHS 2. This is however
ensured by the compliance date, and not through the interdiction of secondary market
operations. Operators are expected to stop acquiring non-compliant products as late as 2018,
depending on the market situation. After mid-2018, products would be sold at lower prices
and more likely to non-EU customers (in this case also beyond mid-2019), with more end-of-
life equipment containing RoHS 2 restricted substances ending up in non-EU countries with
potentially improper treatment and undesired effects. Another negative environmental
side-effect might be a consumers' shift towards products with a shorter service life.
Waste new-in-scope EEE content of mercury, cadmium, lead, chromium VI, polybrominated
biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) could pose risks to health or the
environment, in particular when the waste EEE is treated in less than optimal conditions.
Similarly, evidence available suggests that the four restricted phthalates
35
, when used in EEE,
can have a negative impact on recycling and on human health and the environment during
waste EEE management operations. Therefore, the hard stop of secondary market for existing
EEE containing such substances, resulting in those products to enter their waste phase earlier
is likely to have negative consequences in terms of both environment and health impacts. On
the contrary, product reuse, refurbishment and extension of lifetime of existing EEE are likely
to have positive impacts as they reduce the rate of waste EEE being generated per unit of
time.
The secondary market closure will in addition involve
disproportionate administrative
costs
for economic operators, in particular SMEs which work in the EEE refurbishment
sector, given that the second life of most products post-2018 will depend on documentation
and not on the technical possibility to refurbish the product. Additionally, as concerns
enforcement, disproportionate administrative costs are expected for public administrations as
well.
The refurbishment of non-compliant medical devices would be stopped after 2019.
Health
impacts
specifically related to the secondary market stop might occur where medical devices
35
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and Diisobutyl
phthalate (DIBP) are substances of very high concern (SVHC). DIBP is a substance that can be used as a
substitute for DBP and was subject to previous assessments performed by the Commission.
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19
products’ life ends earlier than technically necessary. The forced changes in the supply of
refurbished’ medical equipment in the EU could result in negative impacts on patients’ health
in terms of medical devices equipment availability, especially in times of budgetary
constraints to the public health sector.
Economic impacts
on the manufacturing of products are primarily related to the 2019
compliance date rather than to the interdiction of secondary market operations. This
interdiction of secondary market operations will however motivate industry to reach full
compliance earlier; indeed, in absence of the possibility to repair and resell non-compliant
products, customers would look for compliant products already in the years 2017-2018. This
means that the product portfolio will be screened for occurrence of RoHS 2 restricted
substances. If needed, manufacturers would apply for exemptions and adapt production to the
required changes. The managing of the product portfolio requires the updating of product
documentation and the training of personnel. A 2008 study
36
performed a survey of 30
industry companies, including 4 SMEs, regarding compliance with RoHS 2 and found that
past costs and future one-off administrative costs were a maximum of € 42.7 million per
company, with an average of € 5.9 million and a weighted average of € 13.2 million. Future
yearly administrative costs were estimated to reach a maximum of € 4.7 million, with an
average of € 265,500 and a weighted average of € 675,000. This was further explained to
mean that below 0.001 and 1.233% (0.024% – weighted average) of turnover was relevant for
past costs and future one-off costs, whereas between 0.0001 and 0.15% (0.014% – weighted
average) of turnover was projected for future yearly costs. Annual costs however were
expected to remain at a similar rate, as they are tied with general administrative work such as
documentation of compliance, and not necessarily affected by the distribution of compliant
and non-compliant products. These compliance costs would be hastened to the period 2017-
2018 by the interdiction of secondary market operations.
To sum up, the stop of secondary market operations does not add anything substantially
positive to the mere compliance requirement, while it might have significant negative
environmental, economic and social side-effects.
Spare parts problem
The impacts from the spare part issue are very similar to the ones triggered by the secondary
market stop. Indeed, the spare part issue will push manufacturers towards products with
shorter lifetimes and result in higher administrative costs (e.g. market surveillance). Although
it is unlikely that any economic operator will repair a pre-RoHS 2 product with compliant
spare parts, market surveillance will become more complex and vulnerable to fraud.
The spare part provision specifically impacts long-lived products newly in scope, where the
average lifetime is ten years and repair might still be relevant several years after 2019.
37
Specialised repair business is a well-established part of the EEE sector, typically undertaken
by SMEs; the limitation of this activity, taking place both in the EU and in third countries,
will most likely have some degree of negative economic and social impact, including on
reduced international trade of spare parts and on SMEs. The shortening of EEE life under this
scenario will also negatively affect the use of resources needed to early replace end-of-life
EEE.
36
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee/pdf/rpa_study.pdf
- Arcadis Ecolas & RPA (2008), A Study on
RoHS and WEEE Directives - Final Report 06/11925 for European Commission DG Enterprise and Industry, p.
103, 110.
37
See case studies in Annex 2.
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20
To sum up, the 2019 repair-as-produced stop does not appear to have tangible positive
impacts.
Pipe organs problem
No more pipe organs of the traditional type and quality will be placed on the EU market. In
addition to the loss of annual European turnover, this would have significant impacts on
employment and on culture. This translates into a loss of 3,000-3,300 jobs in Europe by 2019,
or a salary loss of € 15-16.5 million per year from 2019.
38
Moreover, if pipe organs remain within the scope of RoHS 2, they are products newly in
scope and therefore affected by the problems created by Article 2(2). This means that also
existing pipe organs placed on the EU market before 22 July 2019 cannot be resold or, more
importantly, repaired after that date. This will lead to an additional loss of 60% of jobs in the
sector and would only leave organ tuners and maintainers employed, which account for 10%
of the current total. The accumulated job losses would translate into a salary loss of € 24-26
million from 2020 to € 59-65 million per year by 2025. Health and environment would not
receive any relevant benefit from the phase-out of lead-containing pipe organs in the EU as
today there is no recognised health and environment issues triggered by their production and
use.
Non-road mobile machinery problem
Environmental impacts
In terms of environmental impacts, if machinery with an off-board power source is to remain
in scope, some (limited) environmental benefits could be expected, related to RoHS 2
restricted substances being replaced with time in some applications. Although exact quantities
are not provided, it is expected that for most of the applications RoHS 2 restricted substances
presence would be small in terms of the total mass per machine.
Finding alternatives with comparable performance and reliability may be challenging, given
the conditions of use of cleaning machinery or mining machinery. Such devices could become
RoHS 2 compliant through the development of substitutes, expected in some cases in the next
years, or, where this would require additional time (post 2019), by requesting exemptions
until the reliability of possible alternatives could be proven. Environmental benefits are
expected connected to the phase-out of RoHS 2 restricted substances; in the case of mining
activities some additional emissions can also be expected in case of a shift toward engine-
based equipment. However, in light of the small market share of both cleaning and mining
machinery industries, compliance depends on the development of substitutes for other EEE,
whose market share determines a strong influence over the suppliers. As only a limited
percentage of machinery are said to be in scope (e.g. 20% of cleaning machinery), it is
concluded that overall environmental benefits would be limited.
Economic impacts
The cleaning machinery sector is highly specialised and export-oriented, with the European
turnover amounting to 1.5 billion €. Only part of this is relevant for equipment which is in
RoHS scope, i.e. the 20% of the product range with off-board power source, amounting to
14,000 units placed on the market per annum. Also the electric powered NRM mining
machinery has a very small EU market share. Furthermore, most manufacturers of cleaning
machinery are SMEs or slightly larger than SMEs.
38
See p. 282 of the Biois study:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/pdf/1.%20Biois%20study%20-
%20RoHS_II_IA_Final%20Report.pdf.
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21
Therefore, efforts towards RoHS 2 compliance could create a large burden for this industry, in
particular where substitution is to require resources for research and development as well as
for reliability testing over a longer period of time. Since the main market share of these
companies is in the manufacture of machinery with on-board power sources, manufacturers
could pull cord-powered models off the EU market to avoid the need for compliance. As a
consequence, higher costs and a loss of effectiveness are expected in those cleaning services
where the cord-connected machineries are requested (e.g. where recharging creates a loss of
working time). Changes to market structure are not expected as all manufacturers produce
both types of models in light of the similarity of both on and off-board powered equipment;
all manufacturers are expected to be affected by RoHS 2 similarly, regardless of types of
machinery that they produce or the location of manufacturing sites (inside or outside EU).
Though the impacts shall be similar, larger manufacturers may be able to cope slightly more
easily with this burden in comparison with smaller manufacturers, which are understood to be
more dominant in this industry.
Therefore, substantial costs in the cleaning machinery sector are expected due to:
the efforts needed to support compliance;
the turnover of the machinery; and
the size of manufacturers.
Similarly, for the mining sector the burden of compliance for a niche sector (electric powered
NRM mining machinery) is also potentially high, leading to negative economic impacts for
sector consumers. A small market share of electric powered non-road mobile mining
machinery could also mean that the market share is too small for manufacturers to be willing
to carry the burden of RoHS 2 compliance.
Manufacturers could thus phase-out cord-powered models, shifting costs to consumers, at
least until substitutes are found for similar applications. Costs of compliance are regarded as
high due to the large development effort needed to make substitutes available. Overall, the
economic burden seems disproportionate in relation to the benefits expected.
Social impacts
Where a shift to battery-operated cleaning machinery is to occur, the higher operational costs
could lead to labour savings to compensate the costs, which could have an impact on
employment levels. In terms of impacts on health, positive impacts are only to be expected in
relation with the phase-out of RoHS 2 restricted substances.
In case of mining machinery, phasing-out of RoHS 2 restricted substances in some
applications could bring minor positive health impacts only with lower emissions throughout
the equipment life cycle. However, negative health impacts could also occur in case of a shift
toward engine-based equipment: for example, the machinery operators would be heavily
affected by the flue gases in close working environment
39
in case the NRMM were replaced
by an engine-based equivalent.
Manufacturers could be impacted either by higher costs (shift to on-board-power-source
machinery) or by abandoning of the segment product for the EU. In both cases, impacts on
employment are expected in the manufacturing sector or downstream sectors (e.g. the mining
sector). If however manufacture is mainly impacted in light of the research and development
of substitutes for RoHS 2 restricted substances, this could create employment opportunities
related to research and development.
39
See Figure 2 and Figure 3
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22
4.3
Secondary market problem
The baseline scenario
40
deviates from the principle of non-retroactivity of RoHS 2 as it
prevents the recirculation of products that are already on the EU market. Moreover, it has
considerable negative impacts, both economically and environmentally. Option 2 is not
retained as explained in Section 3.1; its positive impacts would have been similar, but more
limited than the impacts of Option 3 as it would solve the problem only for specific product
groups and not for all; for this reason it is considered worse than Option 3. Option 3 aims at
fixing the underlying legal problem by adjusting the legal construction, thus allowing
recirculation of all pre-RoHS 2 products.
The following potentially relevant impacts were assessed for the Option 3 in comparison to
the baseline scenario:
Environmental impacts: use of RoHS 2 restricted substances, emission of RoHS 2
restricted substances
41
, waste prevention;
Economic impacts: functioning of the internal market; competitiveness; costs and
administrative burden, including on SMEs; innovation and research,;
Social impacts: employment; consumers behaviours linked to product availability; health.
Given the very broad range of diverse categories of products involved, the impacts are
described in qualitative terms as a detailed quantification is impractical, while detailed
quantification is though provided for some case studies below and in 7.4 Annex 4 Case
studies on secondary market operations and spare parts use for certain newly in scope product
groups.
Public consultation
Stakeholders were provided with background information of the projects and related policy
scenarios and unanimously expressed their positions as follows:
The secondary market problem is relevant for many of them.
Stakeholders underlined the difficulties triggered by a baseline scenario where no changes
are introduced in RoHS 2 and were in favour of the policy options proposing a specific
change in RoHS 2 to prevent the hard-stop of secondary market operations.
Stakeholders consider that only EU level action can solve the secondary market problem of
RoHS 2 scope.
Regarding the policy options aiming to address the secondary market problem, Option 3 was
supported by most stakeholders, as detailed in 7.2 Annex 2 Stakeholder consultation.
Option 3 – removal of the hard stop to secondary market operations
Potentially relevant impacts are assessed below for Option 3 as a variation from the baseline
scenario.
Environmental impacts
As for the use of RoHS 2 restricted substances and emissions from WEEE, deadlines of
compliance are not affected, thus no specific impacts are expected for Option 3.
40
41
See section 0.
See footnote 1 and baseline scenario.
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23
In terms of waste generation impacts, Option 3 is likely to be beneficial in light of the
removal of secondary market limitations, because it results in prolonging product's life thus
contributing to the circular economy in the EU; the total quantity of waste prevented is
estimated at more than 2000 tonnes per year only for the sector of medical equipment and
1000 tonnes per years in the case of monitoring and control instruments. No negative
environmental impacts from the market circulation of pre-RoHS 2 products (containing
restricted substances) or possible changes in the distribution of environmental impacts
resulting from export of such items are expected given that the EEE concerned are already
circulating in the EU market.
Internal market
For Option 3 no cost difference is expected for placing new products on the market, while for
the entire market costs could be lower with a fully operational secondary market.
Manufacturers' competitiveness and cost of innovation and research
As under this option the deadlines are unchanged, no cost difference is expected.
Costs and administrative burden
Option 3 facilitates enforcement, resulting in lower administrative costs for public authorities:
market surveillance measures to enforce the removal of non-compliant articles from the EU
market shall also no longer be needed, resulting in lower costs for public authorities.
Long-lifetime product groups have important repair and resale markets. Thus, industries
concerned, mostly SMEs could be severely affected by the secondary market problem. Under
Option 3 this impact on industries would be removed.
Employment
Option 3 stimulates secondary market operations
Consumers
With regard to secondary market operations, Option 3 would positively impact all
non-compliant articles placed on the market prior to the various compliance deadlines, given
that it leaves the original compliance date untouched. Allowing secondary market operations
will remove negative impacts on consumers, otherwise tied with the limited supply of
non-compliant articles by secondary market operations. This eliminates negative impacts on
consumers caused by an early end-of life of the products concerned, with the highest benefit
linked to the supply of secondary long-life products.
Health
Promoting medical equipment refurbishment in the EU would have positive impacts on
patients’ health in terms of medical devices equipment availability, given in particular that
that the difficult budget situation of public health sectors goes along with an increased
demand of used medical equipment. The potential loss for EU hospital due the Article 2(2)
hard stop in the resale of used imaging medical equipment is estimated above 100 million €.
Additionally, the health sector will have to spend an additional 70 million € to buy new
equipment, for a total increased cost exceeding 170 million € for EU hospitals. Thus, the
removal of the hard-stop would trigger a corresponding saving of 170 million euro for EU
hospitals in comparison to the baseline scenario. Further significant savings (in terms of
avoided costs) will occur also for other medical devices and again after 2021, when other
substances (phthalates) will be banned in EEE.
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24
Summary
The baseline scenario might have significant negative environmental, economic and social
side-effects. Option 3 is better in terms of economic and social benefits, and whilst there are
both positive and negative environmental factors, the environmental benefits overall also
appear likely to prevail.
Option 3 is likely to deliver the intended result with less administrative costs and greater legal
certainty. Stakeholders, including SMEs, favour Option 3, which is seen to achieve the result
of solving the issue identified without going beyond what is needed, meeting the general and
specific objectives.
4.4
Spare parts problem
The Option 1 baseline scenario
42
hampers the repair of products that are already on the EU
market. Option 2 resolves the reparability aspects of all non-compliant articles placed on the
market prior to the compliance deadlines. Option 2 does not impact any other aspects as
neither the deadlines for compliance, nor secondary market operations are affected.
The following potentially relevant impacts were assessed for Option 2:
Environmental impacts: use or emission of RoHS 2 restricted substances, waste
prevention;
Economic impacts: functioning of the internal market; competitiveness; costs and
administrative burden; innovation and research;
Social impacts: employment; consumers' behaviour; health.
The impacts are described in qualitative terms as a detailed quantification is impractical,
given the broad range of diverse categories of products involved. Quantification is provided
for specific case studies and details are provided below and in 7.4 Annex 4 Case studies on
secondary market operations and spare parts use for certain newly in scope product groups.
Public consultation
Stakeholders were provided with background information of the projects and related policy
scenarios and a vast majority of them expressed their positions as follows (the others did not
express their opinion):
The spare parts problem is relevant for most of the respondents.
Stakeholders were in favour of the policy options proposing a specific change to the legal
provisions of RoHS 2; in general they clearly underlined the difficulties triggered by a
baseline scenario where no changes are introduced in RoHS 2 concerning the spare parts
problem.
Stakeholders consider that the related specific problems can be solved at EU level only,
directly in RoHS 2 scope, without going beyond what is needed. They in particular
supported option 2.
42
The detailed description of option 1, the baseline scenario, is given in section 0.
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25
Regarding the proposed solutions, as the spare parts problem affects a broad amount of
different sectors, addressing it was supported by most stakeholders; more details are given in
7.2
Annex 2 Stakeholder consultation.
Option 2 – introduction of a repair-as-produced provision
43
Potentially relevant impacts for Option 2 as a variation from the baseline scenario are
assessed below.
Environmental impacts
Reparability of non-compliant EEE newly in scope is made possible in Option 2, thus
resulting in a certain production and imports of non-compliant spare parts and cables, which
shall entail further use of RoHS 2 restricted substances (negative impact) and may cause
additional emissions, particularly tied to treatment of WEEE (the replaced broken spare
parts). However, in terms of total waste generation impacts, a major positive benefit is
expected from Option 2 reparability of non-compliant EEE newly in scope, resulting in a
reduction of products being scrapped early or shipped to non-EU countries to be re-paired and
resold. This triggers a reduction of the WEEE rate over time, due to the prolonged life of the
products concerned, thus contributing to the reduction of use of raw resources in the sector.
Internal market
Option 2 should bring no cost difference to market operators, while benefits, especially on
SMEs are expected through promoting repair operations.
Manufacturers' competitiveness
The option would result in reduced costs of compliance to repair non-compliant products.
Reduced costs for manufacturers would also derive in terms of easier screening of compliant
versus non-compliant spare parts.
Costs and administrative burden
Option 2 facilitates enforcement, resulting in lower administrative costs for market
surveillance authorities.
Long lifetime product groups have important repair and resale markets. Thus, they could be
severely affected by unavailability of spare parts for industries concerned, mostly SMEs.
Option 2 would remove this impact on industries by solving the spare parts problem.
Employment
Positive impacts are expected in light of additional work on repair of non-compliant products
both related to repair operations and to the production of spare parts.
Consumers
Consumers will also benefit from extended reparability, which might even lead to a shift in
warranties and consumer behaviour towards long life articles in some product sectors.
Health
While there will be a certain use of RoHS 2 restricted substances in the manufacture of
non-compliant spare parts and cables, the reduction in manufacturing of the entire equipment
(which often contains anyway some restricted substances by virtue of exemptions) to replace
articles, counterbalances the impacts.
43
The "Repair as produced principle" was generally impact assessed for the 2008 Commission proposal on the
RoHS recast, see p. 50 in the report
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52008SC2930&from=EN
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26
Summary
The baseline scenario does not contribute positively to the objectives.
Option 2 could result in the manufacture of more non-RoHS compliant spare parts as such
spare parts would be allowed for the repair of articles placed on the market before the
compliance deadlines. This negative environmental impact in terms of the use of RoHS 2
restricted substances is more than offset by the positive impact of articles being repaired and
thus not reaching their end-of-life early. Where repair aspects are of relevance, impacts on
industry and consumers are expected to be positive. The most positive impact should be on
enterprises connected to such operations, i.e. manufacturers of parts, further repair of old
articles, second-hand sellers. Option 2 resolves the key economic problem with no important
negative side-effects. Stakeholders, including SMEs, favour Option 2, which achieve the
result of solving the identified issue without going beyond what is the needed and meeting the
general and specific objectives.
4.5
Pipe organs problem
There is no official collection of pipe organ data at a European level and only very few
Member States have a local industry representation. Available data is based on information
provided by the International Society of Organbuilders (ISO) and on sector publications.
The annual turnover for Germany is € 120 million and for the UK € 8 million. This data can
be used to extrapolate an EU wide figure of around € 350-400 million. The EU-wide turnover
of the sector was estimated at € 350-400 million
44
. Stakeholders describe the market as stable,
which means that the market demand will not change in the foreseeable future.
The components of pipe organs relevant for this assessment are the pipes, as they contain
large amounts of lead. All other components are RoHS 2-compliant. The five biggest organ
pipe builders, producing half of the pipe organs placed on the EU market, t use around 28
tonnes of lead per year for the pipes. This suggests a total lead consumption of 56 tonnes per
year. As explained, lead-free production is not an option, nor do alternatives exist to the use of
electricity for generating the air pressure necessary to play the instrument.
The following potentially relevant impacts were assessed:
Environmental impacts: waste generation and recycling; air quality;
Economic impacts: functioning of the internal market; competitiveness; costs and
administrative burden; innovation and research;
Social impacts: culture; employment; health.
Public consultation
Stakeholders were provided with background information of the projects and related policy
scenarios and the only interested stakeholder, the International Society of Organ Builders
expressed its positions as follows:
The pipe organs problem is relevant for them,
They were in favour of the policy options proposing a specific change to the legal
provisions of RoHS 2, i.e. Option 2; in general they clearly underlined the difficulties
triggered by a baseline scenario where no changes are introduced in RoHS 2.
44
See 7.5
Annex 5 Quantitative data on pipe organs
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27
They consider that the related problems can be solved only at EU level directly in RoHS 2
scope as only this would solve the specific problems without going beyond what is needed.
Option 2 – Scope exclusion for pipe organs
Potentially relevant impacts for Option 2 as a variation from the baseline scenario are
assessed below
Environmental impacts – Waste generation and recycling
Pipe organs are long-lived products; many are between 100 and 400 years old. It is very rare
that a pipe organ lasts less than 25 years. When an organ is beyond repair, the pipes are not
disposed of. They are either reused in their original form or melted down and transformed into
new pipes. This means that a closed-loop business had already been established before RoHS,
and the addition of pipe organs to the RoHS 2 scope does not have any impact, nor will
possible scope exclusion lead to an increase in waste generation or a decrease in recycling,
which is in the sector’s own interest.
Environmental impacts - Air emissions
When the lead/tin alloy is melted, the temperatures used are too low to emit lead fumes into
the environment. Temperatures range from 300 to 350 degree Celsius, whereas the critical
threshold for the release of lead fumes is at approximately 480 degree Celsius.
45
Lead
foundries in the EU would apply the best available techniques as requested by the Industrial
Emissions Directive; this implies that prevention techniques (e.g. temperature control),
coupled with primary and/or secondary abatement systems would bring dust and gaseous lead
emissions down to negligible values.
46
There is therefore no major difference between the two
scenarios with regard to emissions.
Internal market
RoHS 2 should affect all pipe organ builders in the EU equally, and no competitive pressures
within the EU should be expected.
Competitiveness
Only around seven organs are being imported into the EU per year, mainly from Switzerland.
However, RoHS 2 covers imported products, and the RoHS 2 scope inclusion (baseline
scenario) would stop imports as well. No significant differences between the two scenarios
are expected.
Costs and administrative burden
Due to a lack of possible substitutes, as explained above, pipe organ builders, which are
mainly SMEs, would have to completely abandon their production for the EU market, which
is approximately 95%, by 2019 in the baseline scenario. Although strictly speaking no
additional costs or burden would be incurred, the total loss of annual turnover in the EU
would be € 350 – 400 million. Option 2 would avoid these costs.
Innovation and research
In view of the history of the sector and its specific musical requirements, it is very unlikely
that the restriction of lead in pipes in the baseline scenario should lead to the development of
adequate lead-free alternatives. No differences between the two scenarios are expected.
45
See p. 280 of the Biois study:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/pdf/1.%20Biois%20study%20-
%20RoHS_II_IA_Final%20Report.pdf;
46
Currently dust level associated with the use of best available techniques is < 20 mg/Nm³ in the dry normalised
foundry flue gas, see p. 321 of the following report:
http://eippcb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/reference/BREF/sf_bref_0505.pdf
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28
Culture
The baseline scenario has a significant negative cultural impact, as the extinction of the
instrument has long-term implications regarding music performances. While all other impacts
affect only the manufacturing sector, the cultural impact is relevant to the wider public.
Option 2 would avoid this vast cultural loss.
Employment
As explained in the problem definition, the baseline scenario will lead to an accumulated loss
of 9,000 to 10,000 jobs in Europe (90% of the current total), or a salary loss of € 24-26
million from 2020. Moreover, all European organ builders qualify as SMEs, which would
particularly suffer from this hardship. Option 2 would avoid this impact.
Health
A possible health issue related to the organ manufacturing process is the impact of lead on the
pipe makers. Some long-term of over 30 years test results from UK and Austria show that
there are no health effects on workers.
47
Therefore there is no difference between the two
scenarios with regard to workers’ health.
Summary
The baseline scenario means the de-facto end of organ production for the EU market and
therefore a significant loss of turnover and jobs in Europe. It also means the extinction of this
musical instrument in the long run and a significant cultural loss.
With regard to competitiveness, the two scenarios are equivalent. Both scenarios affect
manufacturers inside and outside the EU in the same way. With regard to the functioning of
the internal market, the baseline scenario might create problems that the scope exclusion
should resolve.
No environmental, economic or social reasons for keeping pipe organs within the scope of
RoHS 2 could be identified. Several reasons justify full scope exclusion. Stakeholders,
including the pipe organs industry that is mainly composed by SMEs, are in favour of
Option 2.
The environmental and health impacts of the two scenarios are identical. From an
environmental and health perspective, the inclusion of pipe organs in the scope of RoHS 2 is
therefore unnecessary. Option 2 does not go beyond what is necessary to ensure that the
objectives specified in section 2 are achieved, as only a full exclusion of the subsector would
solve entirely the identified problem.
4.6
Non-road mobile machinery problem
In general, NRMM with off-board power sources are manufactured in small quantities.
The EU market share of cord-connected electric powered non-road mobile mining machinery
is estimated to be relatively low compared to the global market. Because of the size, nature,
expense and operating costs of these products, the market concentrates within professional use
in mines only. A very small number of electric rope shovels and continuous miners are used
in the EU. These products can be as large as a building and cost several millions of Euros.
The total sales of each individual product are relatively low globally.
As regards professional cleaning machinery it's estimated that over 70,000 units are to be
placed on the EU market every year, with a distribution between models with an on-board
power source and models without (cord-connected) of 80:20.
47
See p. 283 of the Biois study:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/pdf/1.%20Biois%20study%20-
%20RoHS_II_IA_Final%20Report.pdf;
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29
Most manufacturers are assumed to be close in size to SMEs or possibly slightly larger for
both cleaning and mining machineries product groups.
The following potentially relevant impacts were considered in the assessment:
Environmental impacts, including waste generation and recycling, air quality;
Economic impacts, including the functioning of the internal market, competitiveness, costs
and administrative burden, innovation and research;
Social impacts, including culture, employment, health.
Public consultation
Stakeholders were provided with background information of the projects and only some of
them expressed a position,
48
which can be summarised below:
The NRMM problem is relevant for some stakeholders.
Stakeholders concerned were in favour of the policy options proposing a specific change to
the legal provisions of RoHS 2, as highlighted in the problem description; in general they
underlined the difficulties triggered by a baseline scenario where no changes are
introduced in RoHS 2. Therefore, they called for a solution in line with option 2.
Stakeholders consider that the related problems can be solved only at EU level directly in
the RoHS 2 scope as only this would solve the specific problems without going beyond
what is needed.
Regarding the NRMM problem, the stakeholders concerned supported the solution of
option 2.
49
Option 2 – exclusion from RoHS scope of cord-connected NRMM
Potentially relevant impacts are assessed below for Option 2 as a variation from the baseline
scenario, i.e. in a scenario where the non-road mobile machinery with off-board power source
is excluded from RoHS 2 scope.
Environmental impacts
RoHS 2 restricted substances are present in some components of non-road mobile machinery
with an off-board power source. However, given also the limited amount of EEE placed on
the EU market and the limited amount of substance per EEE, the total environmental impact
of excluding from the scope this product group is considered limited, especially because it is
only on a portion of a sector (the NRMM with an on-board power source are already
excluded).
Economic impacts
The exclusion of the cord-connected machinery models would bring relevant economic
benefit to the cleaning and mining machinery sector, which are mostly made up by SMEs, due
to avoided costs of compliance and of research and development. As only a limited
percentage of machinery are said to be in scope (e.g. 20% of cleaning machinery), it is
concluded that most of the burden would be borne by the excluded EEE sector (NRMM with
48
CECE (Committee for European Construction Equipment, i.e. the European construction equipment
manufacturers’ association) and Eunited Cleaning, the European Cleaning Machines Association. Also, third
countries associations (e.g. from the US) expressed similar positions.
49
See Oeko 2015 study, pages 24-32
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30
an on-board power source) as the solutions can only be developed for the whole sector
NRMM sector.
Social impacts
Negligible social impacts are expected due to size of this sector.
Summary
Costs of compliance are expected to be high in relation to the possible benefits in case of
maintaining the cord-connected NRMM in scope. Costs are significant and they would likely
be borne by EEE manufacturers concerned, while environmental benefits are expected only to
a limited extent, and regardless of whether cord-powered equipment remains in scope or not.
Therefore, the baseline scenario does not positively contribute to the objectives of the
Directive and the inclusion of cord-connected NRMM in the scope of RoHS 2 is therefore
unnecessary. Option 2 does not go beyond what is necessary to ensure that the objectives set
out in section 2 are achieved, as only a full exclusion of the cord-connected NRMM would
solve entirely the identified problem.
5
5.1
C
OMPARING THE
O
PTIONS
Secondary market problem
A qualitative comparison of impacts is given in Table 2.
Table 2: Impacts of policy options for the secondary market problem compared to the baseline
scenario
Policy option
Impact
Environmental impacts
Use of RoHS 2 restricted substances
Emissions from WEEE
Waste prevention
Environmental - aggregate
Economic impacts
Industry’s substitution costs
Industry’s administrative costs
Internal market distortion
Market changes / trade impacts
Authorities’ administrative costs
Economic – aggregate
=
=
=
=
+
=/+
+
+
++
+/++
Option 3:
Deletion of Article 2(2) and compliance date
22 July 2019 brought to Article 4(3)
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31
Policy option
Impact
Social impacts
Employment
Consumer behaviour
Health
Social – aggregate
Option 3:
Deletion of Article 2(2) and compliance date
22 July 2019 brought to Article 4(3)
=
+/++
=
+
Magnitude of impact as compared with option 1 (the baseline is indicated as 0): + + strongly
positive; + positive; – – strongly negative; – negative; = marginal/neutral; ? uncertain; n.a. not
applicable
The comparison shows that an amendment to Article 2(2) should be beneficial in any case.
Option 1 has significant negative impacts with regard to coherence and consistency with other
overarching EU policy objectives; it does not help achieving the objective of the contribution
to the protection of human health and the environment and it could go against the objective of
the correct and regular functioning of the Union internal market.
Option 2 does not address the problem in its entirety and was discarded as explained in
Section 4.2.
Option 3 is clearly preferable with regard to its environmental and social performance. This
option was supported by all stakeholders. Option 3 of the secondary market problem would
mutually reinforce option 2 of the spare parts problem. Option 3 will also entail a reduction of
costs and administrative burden.
As the secondary market problem is fundamentally a legal problem, it can only be resolved by
an amendment to the relevant RoHS 2 provision.
This means that the 'hard-stop' for
secondary market operations should be removed by deleting Article 2(2), and, at the
same time, adding a phase-in compliance provision in Article 4, covering all products
newly in scope (in addition to already covered medical devices and monitoring and
control instruments), stating that the compliance date for these products is 22 July 2019,
which is the date also originally foreseen for the transition.
5.2
Spare parts problem
A qualitative comparison of impacts is given in Table 3.
Table 3: Impacts of policy options for spare parts problem compared to the baseline scenario
Policy option
Impact
Environmental impacts
Use of RoHS 2 restricted substances
Option 2:
Addition of a “repair-as-produced” spare part
provision in Article 4(4)
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32
Policy option
Impact
Emissions from WEEE
EEE lifetime related impacts
Environmental - aggregate
Economic impacts
Industry’s substitution costs
Industry’s administrative costs
Authorities’ administrative costs
Product value from reparability
Product warranty
Economic – aggregate
Social impacts
Employment
Consumer behaviour
Social – aggregate
Option 2:
Addition of a “repair-as-produced” spare part
provision in Article 4(4)
++
?
+
+
+
++
++
+/++
++
++
++
Magnitude of impact as compared with option 1 (the baseline is indicated as 0): + + strongly
positive; + positive; – – strongly negative; – negative; = marginal/neutral; ? uncertain; n.a. not
applicable
Option 2 has significant positive economic and social impacts in comparison to the baseline
scenario. It should be noted that significant negative impacts from WEEE treatment only
occur in a worst case scenario. Also, the assumption that the current repair prohibition
(baseline) will lead to a significant reduction in the circulation of banned substances cannot
take possible substance exemptions for future products into account. In any case the positive
environmental impacts from the extension of product service life outweigh these negative
impacts. The overall assessment clearly supports option 2, i.e. the addition of a
repair-as-produced clause. Option 2 in the spare parts problem would mutually reinforce
option 3 of the secondary market problem. Option 2 will also entail a reduction of costs and
administrative burden. This option was supported by most stakeholders.
As the spare parts problem is fundamentally a legal problem, it can only be resolved by an
amendment to the relevant RoHS 2 provision.
This means that a new clause should be
added in Article 4 for the use of spare parts for the repair, reuse etc. of all products
newly in scope (in addition to already covered medical devices and monitoring and
control instruments already covered) that were placed on the market before 22 July
2019.
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33
5.3
Pipe organs problem
In Table 4, a qualitative comparison of the impacts is given.
Table 4: Impacts of policy options for the pipe organs problem compared to the baseline
scenario
Policy option
Impact
Environmental impacts
Waste generation and recycling
Air quality
Economic impacts
Internal market
Competitiveness
Costs and administrative burden
Innovation and research
Social impacts
Culture
Employment
Health
++
++
=
=/+
=
++
–/=
=
=
Option 2:
Full exclusion of pipe organs from RoHS 2 scope
(Article 2(4))
Magnitude of impact as compared with the situation before RoHS 2 enforcement (2019): + +
strongly positive; + positive; – – strongly negative; – negative; = marginal/neutral; ?
uncertain; n.a. not applicable
Option 1 has significant negative impacts with regard to coherence and consistency with other
overarching EU policy objectives; it does not help achieving the objective of the contribution
to the protection of human health and the environment and it could go against the objective of
the correct and regular functioning of the Union internal market.
Option 2 has significant positive economic and social impacts without any negative side-
effects and is therefore the preferred option, helping to meeting the objective of the correct
and regular functioning of the Union internal market, without hampering the objective of the
contribution to the protection of human health and the environment.
Option 2, the scope exclusion, is clearly preferable. It resolves the identified problem in the
simplest possible way without weakening the level of environmental and health protection.
Transposition into national legislation will be simple. The exclusion of pipe organs from the
scope of RoHS 2 has no impact on the EU budget and will also entail a reduction of costs and
administrative burden. This option was supported by the stakeholders concerned.
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34
As the pipe organs problem is fundamentally a legal problem, it can only be resolved by an
amendment to the relevant RoHS 2 provision.
This means that pipe organs should be
excluded from the scope of RoHS 2 by adding them as a new entry to the list of excluded
product groups in Article 2(4).
5.4
Non-road mobile machinery problem
In Table 5, a qualitative comparison of the impacts is given.
Table 5: Impacts of policy options for the NRMM problem compared to the baseline scenario
Policy option
Impact
Option 2:
change of definition of non-road mobile machinery to
exclude from RoHS 2 scope also off-board power
source NRMM – Article 4 and Article 3(28)
Environmental impacts
Waste generation and recycling
Air quality
Economic impacts
Internal market
Competitiveness
Costs and administrative burden
Innovation and research
Social impacts
Culture
Employment
Health
=
=
=
+
=
++
–/=
=
=
Magnitude of impact as compared with the situation before RoHS 2 enforcement (2019): + +
strongly positive; + positive; – – strongly negative; – negative; = marginal/neutral; ?
uncertain; n.a. not applicable
Option 1 has significant negative impacts with regard to coherence and consistency with other
overarching EU policy objectives; it does not help achieving the objective of the contribution
to the protection of human health and the environment (negligible contribution) and it could
go against the objective of the correct and regular functioning of the Union internal market.
Option 2, the NRMM definition change to cover also twin machineries having an off-board
power source NRMM, has significant positive economic and social impacts without any
negative side-effects and is therefore the preferred option, helping to meeting the objective of
the correct and regular functioning of the Union internal market, without hampering the
objective of the contribution to the protection of human health and the environment. It
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35
resolves the identified problem in the simplest possible way without weakening the level of
environmental and health protection. Transposition into national legislation will be simple.
The NRMM definition change has no impact on the EU budget and will also entail a
reduction of costs and administrative burden. This option was supported by stakeholders
concerned.
As the NRMM problem is fundamentally a legal problem, it can only be resolved by an
amendment to the relevant RoHS 2 provision.
This suggests that NRMM where an
off-board power source replaces an on-board power source should also be excluded
from the scope of RoHS 2, by changing correspondingly the NRMM definition in Article
3(28).
6
M
ONITORING AND
E
VALUATION
Monitoring and ex-post evaluation of the taken measures are neither necessary nor technically
feasible, as all measures aim at a comprehensive solution of the underlying problems by
means of a fundamental yet simple change to the legal status. All tangible impacts except the
direct economic consequences for the EEE sector are neutral. As there are no gradual
implementation steps foreseen and Member States will only need to transpose the legal text
one-to-one into national legislation, there is no need for any specific follow-up. Market
surveillance is expected to be simplified by this initiative.
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36
7
7.1
7.1.1
A
NNEXES
Annex 1 Procedural information
Identification
This Staff Working Paper was prepared by the unit A2 'Waste Management & Recycling' of
Directorate A 'Green Economy' of Directorate General 'Environment'.
50
The Rolling Work
Programme reference of this initiative is 2012/ENV/009.
7.1.2
Organisation and timing
The lead DG in this exercise is DG ENV. Other services of the Commission with a policy
interest in the subject have been associated in the development of this analysis. The Impact
Assessment Steering Group was established in October 2013 by inviting the following DGs:
ENV, GROW, SG, SJ, ECFIN, COMP, EMPL, CLIMA, and SANTE.
The impact assessment was undertaken through several studies conducted on behalf of DG
ENV between 2011 and 2015. DG GROW was consulted in the course of these studies. All
DGs participating in the impact assessment steering group (IASG) were notified of the
outcome. A first roadmap was adopted in 2014 and was replaced by an Inception Impact
Assessment in December 2015.
The Impact Assessment Steering Group met for the first time on 25 February 2016 to discuss
a first version of the draft Impact Assessment report, including the possible policy options as
well as its preliminary impacts. During the first meeting, A2 presented the draft content which
were based mainly on the three studies. The participants (units in DG ENV, DG GROW and
Secretariat General) discussed and provided their input and comments during the process.
The final Impact Assessment Steering Group meeting was held on 08 April 2016; during this
final meeting, the Impact Assessment Steering Group members discussed the updated Impact
Assessment report and took some conclusions, whose content have been consequently
reflected in this report.
7.1.3
Regulatory Scrutiny Board
The Regulatory Scrutiny Board some recommendations, which were used to amend the text as
explained in the table below.
Table 6: Recommendations and improvements
Recommendations
(1) The report should provide, where
possible, additional details and quantitative
data on the likely impacts of the different
options, including with regard to the order
of magnitude of the foreseen burden
reductions.
(2) In order to increase transparency, the
report should provide more information
50
Improvements
Additional details and quantitative data on the
impacts of some options were introduced in
sections 4.3 and 4.4. Where this was not
possible, explanations have been given in in
the introduction of section 4.
Additional details and explanations on the
discarded options were introduced in sections
Currently Unit B3 Waste Management & Secondary Materials in directorate B "Circular Economy & Green
Growth" of Directorate General 'Environment'
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37
regarding the discarded policy options and,
where appropriate, include them as
alternative options to be impact assessed
even if they only partially address the
problem.
(3) More detailed information should be
provided on the stakeholder consultation
acknowledging the strong response bias in
favour of businesses and public authorities.
Efforts to seek views from other
stakeholders should be clarified.
(4) In order to effectively serve as reference
point for the analysis, only one baseline
scenario should be introduced and assessed.
4.3 and 4.4.
Section 4.1 was improved by adding details
and explanations on the reaction pattern.
Other suggestions
The baseline scenario description and impacts
were revised as recommended in sections 3.1
and 4.2. The related comparison analysis in
sections 5.1 to 5.4 was accordingly
harmonised.
Minor fine tuning improvements were brought
to section 2.
7.1.4
Evidence
The options considered in this impact assessment were designed by taking into account the
following Commission studies on the RoHS open scope:
1. DG ENV in 2011 commissioned a study ("Measures to be implemented and additional
impact assessment with regard to scope changes, pursuant to the new RoHS Directive"
(2012)) which identified possible problem areas due to the scope related changes in
the RoHS 2. The final report was published July 2012 and highlights all the problems
addressed in this impact assessment.
51
2. A follow-up study ("Additional Input to the Commission Impact Assessment for a
Review of the Scope Provisions of the RoHS Directive" (2014)) commissioned for DG
ENV analysed various possible solutions to the problems identified in the above
mentioned 2012 study. The final report was published in July 2014.
52
3. An additional study ("Study for the analysis of impacts from RoHS2 on non-road
mobile machinery without an on-board power source, on windows and doors with
electric functions, and on the refurbishment of medical devices " (2015)) on certain
specific product groups' issues was published in March 2015.
53
The stakeholders' opinion expressed during the public and targeted consultations helped
shaping the development of the above studies.
Also other studies on the RoHS 2 scope were taken into account:
51
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/pdf/1.%20Biois%20study%20-
%20RoHS_II_IA_Final%20Report.pdf.
52
http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/reports/201406012_RoHS_Scope_Review_report_final.
pdf.
53
http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/reports/20150312_RoHS_scope_review_final_a.pdf.
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38
A 2010 study for the Danish Ministry of the Environment addressed selected aspects
and product categories under a potential open RoHS 2 scope, however without
analysing the problems addressed by this impact assessment.
54
A UK study published in November 2012 explored some RoHS scope related issues
from an economic perspective.
55
Other sources are referenced in the studies and range from public agencies documents to
industry figures and estimates.
7.1.5
External expertise
The European Commission sought external expertise on the technical field as well as on the
impacts of the possible amendments to the RoHS 2 scope, by contracting three subsequent
studies and by involving stakeholders' expertise in the field in the development of the studies.
The first study was conducted by Biois and ERA consultants associated; the second and third
studies were conducted by Oeko Institute and Eunomia associated. Details of the study
findings are provided throughout the report.
7.2
Annex 2 Stakeholder consultation
Public websites were set up and updated on a regular basis to implement the public
consultations carried out in the years 2012-2015. More than three hundred participants were
registered as stakeholders on the websites, including representatives from Member States,
industry associations, manufacturers of EEE, environmental NGOs, consultancy companies
and institutes, and other types of organisations (e.g. universities).
All project-relevant documents were made available on specifically-built websites throughout
the duration of the work. Stakeholders were notified by an email of the availability of new
documents.
As part of the consultation, also several workshops (see Table 9) were organised with
stakeholders who were also consulted in the development of the Commission studies, both
online and in writing. Dedicated webpages facilitated the exchange of information.
Stakeholders from Member States' administrations, European industry and NGOs were
extensively consulted on the identification of relevant product sectors, gathering and
interpretation of data, and definition and assessment of problem areas. The stakeholder
consultations were open to the public twice via online websites and lasted twelve weeks.
Commission minimum standard has thus been met.
Further follow-up consultations targeting specific stakeholders were carried out also through
direct contact, in writing and through workshops.
For the Commission studies, relevant background information and stakeholder input are
available online.
56
In the first twelve-week consultation, respondents were either industry or industry
associations, for a total of 13 responses. 20 responses were received in the second 12-week
consultation. While this number is not high, the quality of the answers was very satisfactory
and these contributions did feed into the analysis. Additional stakeholder meetings took place
involving around forty stakeholders, which provided additional input to the analysis.
54
55
http://www2.mst.dk/udgiv/publications/2010/978-87-92617-50-7/pdf/978-87-92617-51-4.pdf.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/3032/pdfs/uksifia_20123032_en.pdf.
56
See
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/pdf/RoHS%20website%20documents.zip
and
http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/index.php?id=127.
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39
Another 12-week consultation was carried out providing participants with a short summary of
the aim of the project and the scenarios investigated, as well as with a questionnaire outlining
the main areas where information was needed. Various EEE manufacturers participated in this
exercise, providing information and data as to possible impacts of the current status of
products addressed by different scope-related RoHS 2 articles. Along with the review of
publicly available information, the results of this consultation have provided a basis for the
subsequent analysis and assessment.
In total, some forty respondents (see Table 7) participated to the public consultation or
stakeholders' meetings (see Table 9) and provided input that has been taken into account
during the development of the studies in the years 2012-2015.
Table 7: Public consultation participants
Industry
associations
ACEA
Companies
Andreas Stihl AG &
Co KG
MS public bodies
Third countries
or global bodies
Belgian Federal Public American
Service Environment
Chamber
of
Commerce to the
EU
Danish EPA
Japan
Business
Council in Europe
CECED
Briggs & Stratton
CECE –Committee Daikin Europe
for
European
Construction
Equipment
CEMA
the Denso
European
association
representing
the
agricultural
machinery industry
French Environment TechAmerica
Ministry
Europe
Swedish
Chemicals SEMI – the global
Agency (KEMI)
industry
association
rep-
resenting
the
manufacturing
supply chain for
the semiconductor
and
related
industries
UK Department for
Business
COCIR, European
Coordination of the
Radiological,
Electromedical and
Healthcare
IT
Industry
EADS (European
Aeronautic Defence
and Space Company
NV), (now Airbus)
EDMA/EUCOMED FEI
(European
Diagnostics
Manufacturers
Association
/
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40
Industry
associations
European medical
devices industry)
Companies
MS public bodies
Third countries
or global bodies
EGMF (European Intel
Garden Machinery
industry Federation)
EPEE
NIKO
EPTA
Océ Technologies BV
European
Semiconductor
Industry
LG Electronics
Orgalime,
European
Engineering
Industries
Association
the NEC Europe
GAMBICA – the Panasonic Europe
UK Association for
Instrumentation,
Control,
Automation
and
Laboratory
Technology
EUROMOT – The Philips Healthcare
European
Association
of
Internal
Combustion Engine
Manufacturers
Eucomed
and Siemens Healthcare
EDMA,
the
industry
associations
representing
the
medical devices and
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41
Industry
associations
in vitro diagnostic
medical
devices
sectors respectively
LEU
LightingEurope
Companies
MS public bodies
Third countries
or global bodies
– United Technologies
EUnited Cleaning –
the Association of
European Cleaning
Machines
Manufacturers
In Table 8, stakeholders' positions on the options discussed are reported.
57
57
The numbering of the policy options in this annex corresponds to the options of the secondary market
problem, except for Option 5, which correspond to the Option 2 for the spare parts problem in this document.
Individual documents can be found in the webpage:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/studies_rohs4_en.htm.
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42
Table 8: Summary of stakeholders' contributions
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43
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44
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45
Table 9: Stakeholders' meetings and workshops
Study
Event
Date
Venue
Brussels,
Belgium
Brussels,
Belgium
Brussels,
Belgium
Brussels,
Belgium
First
1
st
Stakeholder 29 November 2011
Commission meeting
study
58
2
nd
Stakeholder 21 February 2012
meeting
3
rd
Stakeholder 15 May 2012
meeting
Third
Targeted
Commission stakeholder
study
meeting
27 November 2014
The stakeholder consultations undertaken identified the following product groups and RoHS 2
scope areas as problematic, namely:
Secondary market operations for RoHS 2 EEE which were not in scope of RoHS 1
(RoHS 2, Article 2(2))
Spare parts for RoHS 2 EEE which were not in scope of RoHS 1
Pipe organs
Certain cord-connected Non-Road Mobile Machinery
The vast majority of stakeholders were of the opinion that those problems can be solved only
with an amendment to the RoHS 2 directive in order to allow the secondary market operation
of new-in-scope EEE, including with the use of pre-RoHS 2 spare parts, in addition to the
exclusion of pipe organs and cord-connected non-road mobile machinery. This opinion was
also reflected in the Commission studies.
7.3
Annex 3 Who is affected by the initiative and how
How
The amendments to the scope of the RoHS 2 directive will require
Member States to:
Transpose the amendments into national law
Enforce the amended provisions (jointly with previous
RoHS 2 provisions to be enforced at the end of the
transition period) by the compliance date through market
Who is affected
Member States
58
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/pdf/1.%20Biois%20study%20-
%20RoHS_II_IA_Final%20Report.pdf
Meeting documents can be downloaded at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/pdf/RoHS%20website%20documents.zip
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46
surveillance
A reduction of costs for the public administration is envisaged due
to simplified market surveillance.
Manufacturers,
Manufacturers, distributors and importers will make available
distributors
and EEE on the EU market in compliance with the amended
importers
provisions. This means that:
Manufacturers, including SMEs, will be enabled to
perform secondary market operations, also through repair
operations with pre-RoHS2 spare parts, also on new-in-
scope EEE. This will be particularity important for
manufacturers of long-life high priced EEE which have an
important secondary market.
Manufacturers, including SMEs, will be able to place on
the EU market pipe organs and cord-connected non-road
mobile machinery with no RoHS substance restriction.
Therefore, the amended provisions will reduce regulatory burden
on the category of manufacturers, distributors and importers,
including on SMEs concerned.
Consumers
Users
and Consumers and users will take benefit of increased availability of
EEE in the EU market. This means that:
An increased availability of second-hand newly-in-scope
EEE, also after repair operation with pre-RoHS2 spare
parts, could result in additional benefits to consumers,
including for health in the case of medical devices.
Pipe organs and cord-connected non-road mobile
machinery will continue to be made available to them with
no substance restriction.
7.4
Annex 4 Case studies on secondary market operations and spare parts use for
certain newly in scope product groups
59
Articles with integrated lighting newly falling in the scope of RoHS 2
Lighting Europe
60
(LEU) submitted a contribution to the Stakeholder Consultation
61
as well
as a response to clarification questions
62
prepared following the initial contribution. Both
59
This Annex is identical to chapter 3.5.3 of
http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/reports/201406012_RoHS_Scope_Review_report_final.
pdf;
for underlying statistical data and stakeholder input see appendices therein. The numbering of the policy
options in this annex corresponds to the options of the secondary market problem, except for Option 5, which
correspond to the Option 2 for the spare parts problem in this document.
60
LightingEurope is an industry association of 33 European lighting manufacturers, national associations, and
companies producing materials. LightingEurope members represent over 1,000 European companies, a majority
of which are SMEs; a total workforce of over 100,000 people in Europe; and an annual turnover estimated to
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47
documents concern products with an integrated lighting function, which did not fall under the
scope of RoHS 1, as the electric function (i.e. lighting) was not the primary function of the
product. Subsequent to the new interpretation of dependency on electricity, these products are
to be regulated according to RoHS 2.
LEU state that “A
typical case is furniture, which is normally a non-EEE product. Typically,
the same type of furniture can be sold with and without a LED luminaire. In case it is sold
with an integrated LED luminaire the whole furniture has to be RoHS compliant, including
those parts which are normally not EEE, and were probably never assessed against RoHS
requirements. Normally, these products are not assessed if sold without LED luminaire.
Conformity assessment for the whole product, including all nonelectrical parts, has to be
performed according to harmonized European Standard EN50581.”
LEU warns that this
group includes “a
huge variety of products for which a reliable impact assessment on cost and
benefits is not available and even difficult to prepare”.
Examples of such products equipped
with LED lighting specified in the first contribution include: post boxes; art/souvenirs; shoes;
signs; music instruments; toys (e.g. scooter with LED in wheel); doors, windows; and
mirrors.
63
Additional examples were provided in LEUs response to clarification questions: clothing;
sport equipment; dog collars; cups; porcelain; and carpets. In this regard LEU explained that
“Members
of LightingEurope observed that LED has features (e.g. lightweight, small size,
little electricity consumption), which inspires other business (entrepreneurs, designers etc.) to
use LED in fields where lighting was not present before. As a consequence we can observe an
increasing trend to integrate a non-electrical product with LED”.
64
Areas of possible non-compliance are tied to the non-electric components of the product. LEU
provides some examples of materials where compliance may be a problem, such as in the use
of:
“lead
in glass (limit 0,2% in EEE)
lead in brass (limit 4% for brass in EEE, up to 6%, no limit, in non-EEE brass
products
lead in aluminium,
flame retardants / plasticisers in clothing
lead in leather
lead in steel”
65
exceed 20 billion Euros. LightingEurope is dedicated to promoting efficient lighting practices for the benefit of
the global environment, human comfort, and the health and safety of consumers.
61
LightingEurope (LEU) (2014a), Contribution to RoHS Stakeholder Consultation Concerning RoHS Scope
Review, submitted 10.03.2014, available under:
http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/RoHS_IA_2_2/20140310_LE_PP_EEE_Newly_in_the_
scope_20140310_final.pdf.
62
LightingEurope (LEU), (2014b), Response to Clarification Questions concerning LEU Contribution to RoHS
Stakeholder Consultation Concerning RoHS Scope Review, submitted 11.04.2014 per e-mail.
63
Op. cit. LEU (2014a).
64
Op. cit. LEU (2014b).
65
Op. cit. LEU (2014b).
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48
LEU explains that as consequence to the inclusion of such products in the scope of RoHS, the
administrative burden on clients of the lighting industry, particularly of producers of non EEE
products, shall increase. The lack of awareness of such manufacturers to the RoHS
compliance requirements may increase the risk for non-compliance of the whole product in
such cases. This is stated not to be in line with the WEEE Directive, under which such
products are not considered to be WEEE at the end of life and could bring about hundreds of
exemption requests.
66
LEU estimate the main impacts tied with this product group as follows: “The logical reaction
of the producers of “EEE newly in the scope” is to avoid costs and risks by not including
lighting in their products. Therefore, LightingEurope believes that the open scope has
negative impacts:
On the lighting industry in the form of loss of business;
On producers of category 11 products in the form of increased cost and loss of product
diversification; and
On consumers in the form of decrease of product functionality;
All while the positive environmental impact is not known and based largely on
estimations.
67
LEU further explains that some guidance is further provided in this regard in the EU COM
FAQ document which gives the example of a wardrobe with lighting and “suggests
that the
whole cupboard is EEE, if lighting and cupboard are integrated and cannot be separated into
two fully functional units. In the opinion of LightingEurope this explanation does not remove
the legal uncertainty with regard to the question, what is EEE and what is the notion of
integration. While the FAQ provides much appreciated guidance, it is not a binding, legal
document, and introduces further uncertainty by the addition of the word “integral” and
“fully functional unit”.
The main concern is understood to be, that despite the compliance of
the electric components used in these products, non-compliance of other components shall
make the whole product non-compliant (lighting as well as lighting fixtures were in scope of
RoHS 1 and are thus expected to be compliant). To avoid this complication, manufacturers of
such products are expected to avoid use of electric components, leading to the above
mentioned impacts.
68
LEU thus request a further exclusion be added to Article 2(4) to resolve this issue, and
propose the following formulation in this regard: “(k)
non-electrical parts of EEE in Category
11 of Annex I, which are using lighting as a non-primary function”.
As further exclusions
from the scope of RoHS are beyond the scope of the current project, this request is not
discussed, and the following evaluation shall merely try to shed light on the type and
magnitude of impacts tied to this product group.
66
67
Op. cit. LEU (2014a).
Footnote cited from LEU (2014a): See BIOIS report, for European Commission, DG ENV: Measures to be
implemented and additional impact assessment with regard to scope changes, pursuant to the new RoHS
Directive, 2012, Annex V, Furniture with secondary electrical functions.
68
Op. cit. LEU (2014a).
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49
LEU could not provide data to clarify the scope or the turnover related to the manufacture and
sales of such products in the EU, but referred to the estimation made by BIOIS: “The
same
report in chapter 1.3.33 tries to estimate the market size of furniture with secondary electrical
function, which is around 1% of the total turnover, corresponding to 1.26 billion EUR per
year”.
69
However, to provide some insight to the possible implications of these products
being in scope, they provided an estimate as to the fraction of the lighting industry’s turnover,
which is tied to the use of lighting in these products: “At
the moment the estimation of
LightingEurope is that approximately 5% of the turnover is coming from integration of LED
lighting into non-EEE products. This turnover was achieved during the times, when only the
lighting part of such integrated products had to comply with RoHS Directive. Since LED
technology is very young there is still space for market development. We are not able to
estimate however how big this market will grow.”
Later on in the document a further rough
estimation was provided of 5-15% concerning the possible loss of business at best-case and
worst-case. “Coming
to the implications on the market trends, LightingEurope can at the
moment only apply the common business sense to this case. Our conclusion is that the market
growth in this segment will lag behind of its potential, what would be without the RoHS
compliance obligation to non-EEE part. At the end of the day it is a lost business for lighting
industry and lost opportunity for the European economy and European consumers without
any significant improvement in the state of environment.”
Examples were also provided for
products which can be designed to be custom-made (such as furniture), in which case the
burden of compliance is higher as each article will separate compliance documentation.
70
In light of the relevance of the lighting sector to this product group, information was extracted
from Eurostat
71
as to the value of sales of lighting applications in the EU 27. Data is based on
NACE classifications for lighting applications such as lamps and lighting fixtures. The total
value of the sector in 2012 was estimated to be around €20 billion with fluctuations in
turnover of up to 10% in the last few years. Based on the estimations provided by LEU, it is
thus estimated that between € 1–1.5 billion of the lighting sector turnover may be at risk
where impacts are to arise from the need of products with integrated lighting to be RoHS
compliant. The worst case situation would be a loss of business of this volume, though the
consultants assume that even if the worst case situation is to be relevant, it would not result in
a loss of all business tied to this product group. Detailed statistical information is provided in
Appendix 5.
The consultants interpret the information provided by LEU to clarify that two sub-groups can
be outlined concerning compliance:
The first includes products which are free of RoHS substances. The burden of
compliance will result in additional costs for the manufacture of articles with
integrated lighting, whereas no environmental benefit is expected as the product was
RoHS substance free to begin with.
69
Cited in Op. cit. LEU (2014b) as Bio Intelligence Service, Impact Assessment, Annex: Furniture with
secondary electrical functions, chapter 1.3.2.5 p. 243.
70
Op. cit. LEU (2014b).
71
Op. cit. EUROSTAT (2014).
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50
The second includes products, which may use RoHS substances in the non-electric
components (components tied with the lighting function are assumed to be compliant
in light of already being in scope of RoHS 1). The manufacturer, who may produce
products both with and without integrated lighting, will need to consider if only RoHS
regulated products are to be redesigned to be compliant or all products. The latter
would be a result of the separation of production lines to be non-feasible.
Environmental benefits are expected, with their volume depending on the decision to
redesign only RoHS regulated products or all products.
In both cases, the burden of compliance on manufacturers of products normally not regulated
under RoHS may result in a decision to discontinue manufacture of products with integral
lighting in order to avoid such expenses. It could be argued that the lighting could be
redesigned so that it would not be “integral”, however the distinction between “integral” and
“non-integral” may not be completely clear to manufactures, as explained by LEU, and is not
legally binding as it is provided in the EU COM FAQ document and not in the RoHS legal
text. A further result could be that consumers purchase items and lighting fixtures separately
and have lighting retrofitted into the item (individually or assisted by a professional
craftsman).
A summary of the expected impacts relevant for Option 1 (Business as Usual) is provided in
Table 10.
Table 10: Impact expected in Option 1 for products with integrated lighting
Impact area
Impact expected in Policy Option 1: Business as usual
Some benefits for products with non-EE components using RoHS
substances. If as a result of current legislation, manufacturers shall
discontinue manufacture of articles with integrated lighting or shall
revert to designs where lighting component is no longer integrated and
can be easily removed; this would have benefits concerning the
management of waste at end of life. In contrast, where manufacture is
not expected to change, more costs shall be relevant in terms of the
recycling sector coming to terms with a product which is not WEEE,
but must still be included in part in the treatment of WEEE.
Environmental
impacts
Additional costs for manufacturers of products with integrated lighting,
(technical costs of compliance and administrative costs of compliance).
Economic
Loss of income where manufacture discontinued, though in most cases
impacts
consumers are expected to purchase articles without light capability,
manufacturers
supplementing a light fixture adjacent to the item or through a retro-
fitting of the lighting fixture within the purchased item.
Economic
impacts
suppliers
Small to large burden for providing documentation (lighting suppliers
and other suppliers respectively). Loss of business where manufacture
is discontinued, though in some cases lighting fixtures may be
purchased separately and assembled by owner.
Economic
Additional costs due to additional products being regulated under
impacts – public
RoHS.
authorities
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51
Impact area
Economic
impacts
consumers
Impact expected in Policy Option 1: Business as usual
Loss of product diversity (lighting capabilities) of relevant product
-
groups, though in some cases articles and lighting fixtures would be
purchased separately and assembled by owner.
Impacts to incur both in products where production is to be
Social impacts -
discontinued (negative) and where product compliance is to be sought
employment
(positive).
Social impacts –
Where products are to be discontinued, in some cases consumers may
purchase lighting equipment to provide lighting capabilities otherwise
consumer
supplied by product.
behaviour
Social impacts -
Impacts proportional to change in environmental benefit (tied to
decrease in RoHS substances)
health
The implication of the reparability and secondary market aspects were not discussed by LEU
regarding this product group, though they may have impacts, as at least some of the products
are assumed to be long life and thus also resalable and reparable. Nonetheless, for the most
part, the impacts addressed by LEU are not expected to change in light of these two aspects. It
is generally expected that the various stakeholders would benefit if the secondary market and
reparability issues could be resolved (Options 3 or 4 and 5, respectively), however other
impacts mentioned in the table above would not be expected to be significantly affected in the
various policy options. In this sense the consultants conclude that this product group is more
or less indifferent to the proposed scenarios. For the most part, impacts addressed in this
section shall remain similar in all scenarios. In the consultants’ view some of the uncertainty
in this regard could be addressed through clarification of the notion of integrity for products
where the electric function is not primary, though, this may also lead to further confusion if
not handled carefully.
Equipment with an internal combustion engine newly falling in the scope of RoHS 2
The European Association of Internal Combustion Engine Manufacturers (EUROMOT)
submitted a contribution to the Stakeholder Consultation.
72
EUROMOT explain that, as the
primary energy is not based on electricity but fuel such as petrol, diesel or gas, all equipment
powered by internal combustion engines did not fall under the scope of RoHS 1, but would
newly be in the scope of RoHS 2, probably falling under category 11. It is further explained
that most engine-powered equipment is covered by exclusions under Article 2(4)
73
and that
engine powered equipment above 1000 V for alternating current and 1500 V for direct current
is not in scope of the RoHS Directive. Engines are explained to power many different product
groups and markets, making the retrieval of market data on this diverse group of products
challenging. EUROMOT explain that service life
“varies significantly between equipment
The European Association of Internal Combustion Engine Manufacturers – EUROMOT (2014), Contribution
to RoHS Stakeholder Consultation Concerning RoHS Scope Review, submitted 07.03.2014, available under:
http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/RoHS_IA_2_2/Products_newly_in_scope/20140307_E
UROMOT_RoHS_2_Oeko-Institut_Review_EEE_newly_in_Scope-Questionnaire_Final_Response_2014-03-
07.pdf.
73
This is understood to refer to the exclusions available in RoHS 2 for large scaled installations stipulated in
Articles 2(4)(d and e).
72
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52
based on internal combustion engines. Some products may have an average service life of 50h
(two years) others in excess of 80,000 hours may still be in service after 25 years. In general,
it is common practice to repair equipment based on internal combustion engines and it is an
important part of the business. Depending on the type of equipment the engines may have
multiple overhauls in their service life. Each overhaul will need many spare parts some of
which may contain substances which are restricted under the RoHS 2 Directive”.
Detail as to
possible parts where RoHS substances shall be required are specified below.
74
Concerning secondary market operations, EUROMOT explain that “secondary
market
operations are common for many products based on internal combustion engines. This
includes leasing, renting, and secondary sales operated both by retailers and equipment
owners. For some products, the secondary market is so well established that the potential for
resale is an important factor in the value of the product.”
75
Concerning the compliance of such equipment, at present the main substances of concern are
understood to be lead (Pb) and hexavalent chromium (Cr VI). Cr VI is used for corrosion
protection of certain engine parts in current equipment and will probably be needed in the
future for spare parts of engines. Manufacturers are working on replacing Cr VI, however, in
many cases spare parts will probably not be redesigned. EUROMOT provides the following
examples for Pb, which is used in light of the high temperature range and the vibration of the
engine and the resulting high strength requirement for the solder joints.
76
Compression Ignition Engines:
Pb in solder of the Monitoring Instruments is likely to be above the restricted
0.1wt% threshold at homogeneous level;
Pb in solder in engine control electronic systems exceeds the 0.1 wt%
threshold at homogeneous level;
Likewise Pb in the engine bearing and bushing components of the Combustion
Engine is also likely to exceed the 0.1wt% threshold.
Pb in solder for the spark-ignition system and engine control electronic
systems exceed the 0.1 wt% threshold;
Pb in metal alloys for engine body;
Pb as impurity in recycled plastics.
Spark-ignition engines:
Pb is also used in the starter batteries of internal combustion engines, which are
notably exempted under the End of Life Vehicles Directive covering engines in
automobiles.
EUROMOT explains that for some components, particularly in large scale products, present
alternatives may result in an unacceptable reduction in service life. Although EUROMOT
members have stated their intention to comply by the end of the transitional period,
74
75
Op. cit. EUROMOT (2014).
Op. cit. EUROMOT (2014).
76
Op. cit. EUROMOT (2014).
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53
EUROMOT claims that present indications show that some products may not be capable of
complying.
77
Generating sets (GENSETs)
and power systems equipment is specified as a sub-group, for
which additional information was submitted. Here too repair and secondary market operations
are explained to be of relevance, though a large portion of equipment is assumed to be
excluded through the Article 2(4) provisions. However in some cases the rental use of
equipment does not allow benefiting from these provisions. “EUROMOT
wishes to point out
the apparent contradiction caused by the interpretation of the term “Large Scale” in relation
to certain applications. In the FAQ document, 12 December 2012, page 11, it is noted that:
‘Machinery that has partial mobility, for example semi-mobile machinery running on rails,
can be of ‘permanent use’. On the other hand, EEE that is intended to be used on different
sites during its life is not considered as permanent. It is an indicator of permanent use if the
equipment is not readily re-locatable (or ‘mobile intended’) and if it is intended for use at one
single location.’”
In this regard, an example is provided of a 2.5 MW enclosed generating set
installed permanently at a pre-defined and dedicated location, which would be excluded as a
Large Scale Fixed Installation. In comparison, the same GENSET offered for rental use would
not be entitled to this exclusion in light of use in multiple locations. EUROMOT claims that
there is a
“significant risk that rental and similar products placed on the market during the
transition period may not be capable of being repaired with compliant parts and may be
forced out of service, to the detriment of the environment and all stakeholders.”
78
EUROMOT also make a short statement concerning professional lawn, garden and forest
equipment falling under this product group, which shall be further explained in Section 0
below.
EUROMOT recommend implementing Option 3 (the
2019 Scenario)
as it brings a single date
enabling alignment of all EEE compliance with reduced impact to the environment. Option 4
(the
2017 Scenario)
in comparison would artificially shorten the time needed to ensure
compliant parts, whereas in some cases significant R&D work is required to establish
compliance, stretching beyond the specified timeframe. Concerning Option 5 (the
Spare-Part
Scenario)
EUROMOT state that this option will help to clarify and support the needs of
products with a long life cycle as well as secondary markets that are an integral part their
members business’. If secondary market operation and spare parts provisions are not included,
this is said to result in more waste and a negative impact on the environment because of
limitations to resale and limitations to service in light of non-reparability.
79
To provide some indication as to the volume of sales that may be relevant for this case,
information was extracted from Eurostat
80
. In the information provided by EUROMOT
(which concerns combustion engines being used in a diverse range of equipment) it was stated
that clarifying the range of sales of all products would be challenging. To provide some
indication, the example of generating sets was thus the focus of data extracted from the
Eurostat data, regarding sales in the EU 27 between 2008 and 2012 (as opposed to data
77
78
Op. cit. EUROMOT (2014).
Op. cit. EUROMOT (2014).
79
Op. cit. EUROMOT (2014).
80
Op. cit. EUROSTAT (2014).
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54
concerning manufacture of all combustion engines). Data is based on NACE classifications
for GENSETs falling under classification
“27.11 Manufacture of electric motors, generators
and transformers”.
The total value of the EU GENSET sector in 2012 was estimated to be
around €5.5 billion. After a 27% fall in sales in 2009, assumed to be tied to the economic
crisis, the market seems to have stabilized in the last few years. Detailed statistical
information is provided in Appendix 6.
In the consultants’ opinion, it is important to make a distinction between equipment which is
only available for professional use, consumer equipment and equipment designed for
professional use but also available to private consumers (through renting and leasing
operations or through direct purchase). The GENSET example is a private case of the first
equipment group; whereas the case of garden equipment, developed in the next section is
more relevant to the last group.
For the GENSET case, the information provided by EUROMOT suggests that costs of
compliance shall mainly be a burden in cases where equipment is circulated on the rental
market, as such equipment would not enjoy the large scale exclusions which are understood to
cover a large portion of GENSETs. In comparison with privately owned equipment
81
with a
single owner (or even multiple owners), rented equipment is expected to have significant
disadvantages embodied in the burden of compliance. This would be expressed in the general
costs of compliance in terms of technical costs of researching and applying substitutes and in
administrative costs of screening product portfolios for compliance issues and preparing and
maintaining documentation. As rented equipment will usually have a longer service life and
be repairable, additional costs are expected in light of the limitations relevant for both of these
aspects on Option 1 (business as usual). As expressed in the general evaluation of options
(Section 3.5.2), costs tied to secondary market operations shall be alleviated in policy options
3 or 4, and costs tied to reparability alleviated in policy option 5. However, the differentiation
between mobile and fixed (as well as semi-mobile) equipment means that certain market
distortions may arise. First of all, manufacturers providing equipment mainly for the rental
market would be heavier burdened with compliance than manufacturers providing equipment
to a mixed market, not to mention those mainly selling to private users. This burden would
either be shifted to consumers (rental operators and further on to consumers) or would give
way to a shift of market structure away from rental operations. In both cases costs could be
expected for manufacturers, for the secondary market operators and for consumers of rental
equipment. Though policy options resolving secondary market and reparability aspects will
alleviate some of these costs, they do not provide a full solution. Nonetheless, as it is
understood that manufacturers are already preparing for the transition to compliance, it can be
assumed that where substitution is possible, it shall be achieved for a larger range of
equipment than that falling in scope. This means that if industry is provided sufficient time to
comply with the RoHS substance restrictions, additional benefits (in the form of substitution
of products excluded from scope) may be relevant. It is thus concluded that providing such
products with the longer transition period (2019) would ease the burden of compliance and
81
Equipment owned by a professional user could still be sold on to a second user, however as the location is
fixed during the period of ownership, such resale is allowed. Ownership periods are also assumed to be longer,
as otherwise purchase would be less economic in comparison with rental. Thus such equipment may have a few
locations, but would still be interpreted as semi-mobile and benefit from an exclusion from scope.
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55
may have additional positive impacts in terms of the environment and the respective social
impacts (health). Provision of a spare parts provision (Option 5) will have similar beneficial
effects.
It may be argued that the burden of compliance on the sector, in light of the forced
compliance of articles which are not in scope, does not justify the expected benefits of such
compliance. However, such aspects were not quantified in the submitted data, nor would the
consultants be in the position of recommending further exclusions from scope of certain
articles in light of the scope of this project.
A further potential subgroup was identified in the case of
equipment in one particular
category of EEE with similarity to other groups.
Certain product groups falling under Cat.
11 have been mentioned by stakeholders with regard to their similarities to other categories, in
particular those in Cat. 8 and 9 where there are advantageous compliance stipulations within
RoHS. EUCOMED Medical Technology and EDMA Diagnostics for Health
82
, the industry
associations representing the medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices sectors
respectively, mentioned such product groups in their contribution. They explained that though
their products are intended for human medical purposes, similar products were used for
veterinary and forensic uses. Despite such similarities, these product groups were assumed to
fall under Category 11 of RoHS2. In this sense, the consultants assume that despite
similarities of compliance aspects (availability of substitutes) as well as reparability and
secondary market aspects, such articles would be penalized in comparison with Cat. 8 & 9
counterparts (under the current legal text, reparability and secondary market operations of
non-compliant articles are limited). Furthermore, even if articles are to be granted the same
exemptions, the 7 year duration of exemptions for Cat. 8 & 9 would not apply, meaning that
maintaining exemptions would also be more burdensome. Though such product groups would
be alleviated from the former mentioned costs under the joint implementation of Option 3 (or
4) and Option 5, the latter costs shall still apply. To conclude, it appears that additional areas
may exist where similar articles have requirements which are slightly different. However,
further information was not made available by such stakeholders. As it is assumed that the
manufacturers of such equipment are for the most part the same manufacturers as those of
Cat. 8 & 9 equipment, the consultants assume that the additional burden did not justify
providing a contribution to quantify the difference of costs in such cases.
Gardening equipment newly falling in the scope of RoHS 2
EGMF, the European Garden Machinery Industry Federation submitted a contribution to the
Stakeholder Consultation.
83
The data they provide concerns the possible impacts expected
where garden equipment is concerned. They provide a list of equipment which would fall
under this product group including augers; blowers/vacuums; brush cutters; chain saws; edge
82
Eucomed & EDMA (2014), Contribution to RoHS stakeholder consultation concerning RoHS scope review,
submitted 10.03.2014, available under:
http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/RoHS_IA_2_2/Products_newly_in_scope/20140310_E
DMA_Eucomed_RoHS_Art_2_2_and_Art_4_consultation_response_to_Oeko_Institute_2014_03_10_PUB.pdf.
83
EGMF (2014), Contribution to RoHS stakeholder consultation concerning RoHS scope review, submitted
28.02.2014, available under:
http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/RoHS_IA_2_2/Products_newly_in_scope/20140310_FI
NAL_EGMF_answers_to_Oko_28022014_all6parts.pdf.
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56
trimmers; grass trimmers; hedge trimmers; high pressure cleaners; Ice augers; lawn and
garden tractors; lawnmowers; log splitters; motor hoes; pole prunes; pumps/submersible
pumps; scarifiers/turf aerators; shredders; snow throwers; sprayers; stump grinders; and
sweepers. All of these products are specified to be newly in scope in light of the change in the
definition of EEE (interpretation of dependency on electricity). For most products, similar
items exist which are already in scope in either battery or electric powered versions. However,
articles operated with petrol but with an electrical function were not in the scope of RoHS 1,
though these are now to be regulated within RoHS 2. This regards a total of 8.6 million units
of equipment, estimated for Europe (geographical) sales volumes for 2012 of petrol driven
machines, for EGMF members only.
84
The average service life of products is 10 years and all equipment is said to be reparable. All
parts are explained to have spare parts and examples of critical ones, in which RoHS
regulated substances, are used, being: e.g. electric parts, fasteners, blades, coated/plated parts.
Furthermore all of these products can be leased, rented or can be sold as second hand
products.
85
EGMF
86
provides information about compliance of equipment as presented in Table 11.
Table 11: Compliance of petrol powered garden equipment with the RoHS substance
restrictions
Source: Op. cit. EGMF (2014)
It is understood that in most cases exemptions or alternatives are available, with the main
concerns of substitution being focused on lead in general usages, and cadmium in switches. It
is explained that the substitution with lead free solder may result in a reduction of the lifespan
of the entire product, due to reduction of the lifespan of certain components of the product for
which lead free solder has been used. This would result in an increase of the waste generated
in light of early end-of-life. Investigations are still ongoing regarding the possible effects of
84
85
Op. cit. EGMF (2014).
Op. cit. EGMF (2014).
86
Op. cit. EGMF (2014).
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57
lead free solder on the lifespan of product/components. EGMF provide a roadmap of the
stages needed to enable compliance with RoHS, estimating a total of 6 to 8 years needed for
compliance of new products (time differs for various products included in the product range).
It is further stated that (under the current legislation) exemptions would be needed to enable
the use of non-compliant spare parts for repairing equipment already on the market.
A table comparing the costs and benefits of each of the proposed policy options is provided
by EGMF to clarify that Option 3 (the
2019 Scenario)
and Option 5 (the
Spare-Part Scenario)
are preferable for this sector. Option 4 (the
2017 Scenario)
would resolve the limited
secondary market issues, but would require earlier compliance, possibly increasing costs in
light of insufficient time. Option 2 is understood to be irrelevant as it shall not change the
impacts relevant for products of EGMF members.
On the basis of the information provided by EGMF, the consultants could estimate that in
2012 the following quantities of RoHS substances were brought on the market:
Lead – 6.364 kg (an average of 0.74 g per each of 8.6 million units placed on the
market in light of use of lead solders, metal alloys, ceramics and recycled plastics);
Hexavalent chromium – 1.72 kg (an average of 0.0002 g per each of 8.6 million units
placed on the market in light of use in fasteners and other steel parts where corrosion
protection is relevant).
It is assumed that as compliance is achieved towards 2019, these quantities shall decrease. It
is further understood that especially concerning the use of lead, this decrease may require
additional time beyond 2019, where exemptions already exist or would be requested. These
reductions are observed as an environmental benefit of compliance, with various costs being
tied to the efforts needed for such benefits to incur. In light of the time needed specified by
EGMF for the various stages of achieving compliance (including research of substitutes {2
years} testing {2 to 3 years} and redesign {2 to 4 years}), it can be followed that achieving
compliance before 2019 would be difficult, and would result in additional costs since various
stages would need to be performed in parallel (where this can be done). It can also be
followed that in some cases, earlier deadlines shall not result in earlier benefits, and it is
unclear if the additional benefit of an earlier deadline (2017) would justify earlier
environmental benefits. In this regard, it can be followed that Option 3 (the
2019 Scenario)
will be preferable in terms of the cost of compliance for industry and society (considering
impacts on manufacturers, impacts on secondary market operations, and impacts on
employment). If this Option 3 is coupled with Option 5 (the
Spare-Part Scenario),
then
benefits, in terms of reparability shall also incur for industry, for the environment and for
society (employment, health).
Toys newly falling in the scope of RoHS 2
The Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) Association submitted documents, prepared in the course
of the BIOIS report, to the Stakeholder Consultation. As documents were listed as
confidential, TIE was sent clarification questions and requested to provide information that
could be made public. The information concerning toys regulated under RoHS is based on the
response
87
provided by TIE to these questions.
87
Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) (2014), Response to Clarification Questions Sent by Oeko-Institut, submitted
per e-mail on 01.04.2014.
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58
To provide some indication as to the volume of sales that may be relevant for this case,
information was extracted from Eurostat
88
as to the value of sales of toys in the EU 27. Data is
based on NACE classifications, which in the case of toys are understood not to fall under the
group classifications of EEE. The total value of the EU toy sector in 2012 was estimated to be
€5.2 billion with large fluctuations in turnover (annual changes of -4% to +31% have occurred
over the last 5 years). As separating between data for conventional toys and toys with electric
functions is not feasible in terms of the available classifications, it cannot be determined what
part of this value would be attributed to EE toys, let alone to EE toys newly in scope. Detailed
statistical information is provided in Appendix 7.
Toys falling under the scope of “EEE newly in scope” are understood to be “toys with a minor
electrical function” as these would fall under RoHS 2 in light of the new interpretation of
dependency on electricity. The compliance of such products is also to be underway if not
already achieved: “All
members of TIE, and all its members’ members are aware of the new
situation and of the new scope of RoHS, and therefore have already taken measures to make
sure they will comply with the new requirements when these will enter into force after the
transition period. The biggest toy manufacturers have long taken the approach that any
electrical toy (regardless of whether the toy has a primary or secondary electrical function)
needs to comply with RoHS.”
Such articles are characterised as follows: “24
categories of toys
were identified that contained electrical or electronic (EE components). The average
electronic content of EE toys was found to be 8%. This includes circuit board & wiring
(1.7%), motors and transformers (6%).”
It was estimated that nearly 85,000 tonnes of EE toys
were sold in the EU in 2002. The applicability of these quantities in 2014 was explained by
TIE stated as follows: “In
some Member States such as Spain, the amount (in Kg) of electrical
toys decreased by 8% from 2011 to 2012, and by 13% from 2012 to 2013. However, we
cannot tell whether this is a result of the economic crisis or responds to other reasons. We
will have to check the data and tendency of the coming years.”
89
The consultants understand this to mean that some of the larger enterprises already comply,
whereas others are expected to become compliant by 2019. A possible exception to this
understanding may be in smaller enterprises (SME’s) which may not be fully aware of the
RoHS Directive and its possible implications.
Concerning Compliance of EE toys, TIE provide the following information: “…it
is important
to note that the average metal content of EE toys is low at 7% compared to 51% in most
WEEE. Toy manufacturers do not "use" heavy elements. Toys have been regulated for heavy
metals for many years and the toy industry complies with these regulations. Legislation such
as REACH, RoHS or the Batteries Directive add to the recently revised Toy Safety Directive
2009/48. The new migration limits for 19 heavy elements (incl. lead, cadmium, mercury and
chromium VI) laid down in the Toy Safety Directive apply as of July 2013. Very minor
quantities (traces) of lead might be found in EEE toys, due to its natural occurrence in raw
materials and mainly due to the solder used. Mercury is not likely to be found in toys.
Chromium VI compliance has not been an issue for toys that are within scope of RoHS until
now. Flame retardants PBB and PBDE are not used in toys. They were banned for a very
88
89
Op. cit. EUROSTAT (2014).
Op. cit. TIE (2014).
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59
large group of products, and they have essentially disappeared from the supply chain.”
It is
thus understood that RoHS substances should not be contained in toys, unless possibly in
alloys used for soldering purposes. Where these are applied in electric components, acquired
from suppliers, these areas were explained to be easier for achieving compliance, as suppliers
will probably manufacture components for other EEE and so either compliance has been
achieved, or the transition is expected to be relatively simple. In comparison, where solders
are used by the toy manufacturer, this could be more complicated as in the past
“… a number
of relevant companies have replaced their solders by lead-free solders. These companies have
had to modify their toys as the solder was different and reacted differently. It was not easy.”
90
The consultants assume that complications with solders were more relevant for toys with
primary electric functions that have already come into scope under RoHS 1, whereas in toys
with secondary electric functions, electric components will more often be provided by
suppliers, making compliance easier. It is not known to what degree this assumption would
clarify the easier compliance, however TIE estimate in this regard that given sufficient time,
compliance should not be problematic “Toy
manufacturers of toys with a secondary electrical
function (new in scope) will be compliant at the date of entry into force of the new
obligations. In fact, manufacturers, who need around 18 months to prepare and design new
products, are already taking these new obligations into account. As RoHS-compliant
components are already available on the market, no big hurdles are expected.”
The consultants thus conclude that achieving compliance by 2019 should not be a problem for
the toy industry. If the date of compliance was moved to 2017, as long as it could be ensured
that industry would be notified at least 18 months ahead of time (mid 2016), compliance
would probably still be possible. In this regard however, the consultants assume that this may
result in some negative financial impacts to business as it would require a change of business
plan to ensure earlier compliance. It is unclear if compliance in this regard is still forthcoming
in some cases (subsequently also resulting in associated environmental benefits) or if this
mainly requires an administrative effort to guarantee that electric components, obtained from
the supply chain, are indeed RoHS compliant.
Concerning Secondary Market Operations, TIE state that “Toys
are often kept in attics,
collected by collectors or simply kept for many years for emotional reasons, and therefore the
life expectancy of a toy can be very long. It is almost impossible to have accurate data on
secondary market operations, but we can be sure that toys are part of many charity actions in
Europe where second-hand products are sold at lower price or offered. In any case, these toys
are compliant with the legal requirements applying at the time they were placed on the market
for the first time.”
91
In the consultants’ opinion, though it is unclear what part of such products would fall under
the definition of EEE newly in scope (in light of date placed on the market), it is understood
that in such cases, such charity activities would have to adapt activities to comply with RoHS.
This may result in a few scenarios: (1) Charities may choose to offer such EEE free of charge
to avoid complications or otherwise (2) it would need to be discarded or (3) exported to non-
90
91
Op. cit. TIE (2014).
Op. cit. TIE (2014).
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60
EU countries. Though the first and latter option may have benefits to society (in the EU or in
other countries, respectively), they would result in higher costs/lower benefits for the
charities. Discarding of such toys would have negative environmental costs as products would
reach end of life early and charities would also have a loss of income in this regard, which
facilitates their activities in general. Though it is unclear if implementing RoHS regulation in
the context of charity sales is feasible, it can be understood that the current situation would
lead to various costs that would be avoided if the secondary market aspect was resolved.
Society may have lower benefit in this regard (as toys will not be given free of charge or
supplied to countries outside the EU, however these are assumed to be balanced with the
elimination of charity costs, which would result in less charity activities for society in light of
less financial resources. Thus the environmental benefit would also be in favour of resolving
this issue.
The following information was provided which provides some background for aspects of
Reparability. The life time of toys is explained to be rather long. “A
recent TIE study from
2012 shows that the average life expectancy of a toy can be very long … life cycle of an
electric toy will obviously depend on the toy itself and the use the consumer makes of it. The
study found that it is rare for toys to be thrown away. 19 out of every 20 toys are either stored
or re-used after use, usually by passing the toy onto friends or family or donating to charity
or nursery. Toys are generally kept in the house for a long time prior to being given up for re-
use. Typically toys are kept for between 6 to 12 years. The mean time they are kept is 10
years... In general, toys are not subject to repairs, because it is much less cost effective to do
this than for other more expensive products”
92
The consultants thus understand that despite the long life time of toys, repair may not be a
common practice where use continues regardless of dysfunction of electrical components. For
example, a teddy bear with a light function is assumed to remain in use as such, regardless of
the operation of the light component. Articles where use would be discontinued in the event
of electric malfunction, are assumed to already be in scope through RoHS1 since the electric
components provide the main function in this case (such as in computer game devices).
Against this background, this project category would be relatively indifferent to addition of a
spare part provision.
To conclude, it is understood that Option 3 (the
2019 Scenario)
would be preferable for the
toy sector, as it would solve the possible problems of secondary market operations. Such
operations, mainly relevant in light of charity activities, are understood to have an impact on
the environment, on society and on consumers and not to be a concern of industry. Though
Option 4 (the
2017 Scenario)
is expected to solve secondary market operations as well, it may
result in some costs for the toy industry as well as their supply chain, in light of need to
reallocate resources to support earlier transition to RoHS compliance. From a comprehensive
perspective,
Option 3 would thus be preferable,
as all other factors are understood to remain
unchanged. The addition of a spare parts provision (Option
5)
in Article 4(4) is not expected
to have an impact on the toy sector, which would thus be indifferent to its implementation.
92
Op. cit. TIE (2014).
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61
7.5
Annex 5 Quantitative data on pipe organs
Table 12: Average UK organ builder income
93
Table 13: Average European organ builder income
94
Table 14: Inflation rate adjustment
93
Based on Eurostat, GDP per capita in PPS, 2010, accessed at
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tec00114.
94
Eurostat, GDP per capita in PPS, 2010, accessed at
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tec00114.
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62
Table 15: Employment impacts