As the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) is about to adopt a Regulation restricting hazardous substances in electronic and radio-electronic equipment, manufacturers, importers and retailers should start preparing for the impending changes to the market access process.
EEC Regulation Project on Hazardous Substances
As the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), that includes Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, is about to adopt a Regulation restricting hazardous substances in electronic and radio-electronic equipment, manufacturers, importers and retailers active in the EEC markets should start preparing for the impending changes to the market access process. SGS can support them market access process at every step of the way.
It is anticipated that EEC member states will reach an agreement on the new RoHS-like regulation in the first few months of 2014. The Regulation's goal is to bring the EEC countries closer to their major trading neighbor, the European Union. Observers report that the EEC countries are currently in the process of reviewing a first Regulation draft and are intensely negotiating the scope of products and the restriction limits for hazardous substances.
Current EU RoHS Directive
The current version of the EU RoHS Directive limits the use of lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers to 0.1%, and for cadmium to 0.01% concentration levels in individual homogenous materials. The EEC version of RoHS is expected to include the same substances and similar restriction levels. Just as in the case of EU ROHS, once the EEC Regulation is adopted it will become mandatory for all its member states and will be transposed into their national legislation.
