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New UK Government RoHS Consultation
The Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) has published a new public consultation paper on proposals to revise the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) Regulations 2006, (SI 2006 /1463).
This consultation paper is seeking the views of the producers of electrical and electronic equipment and others on proposed amendments in relation to:
- - Schedule 2 of the current Regulations; and
- - those Regulations that are specific to the enforcement provisions.
BERR has invited the views of stakeholders by Thursday, 29th November 2007.
Further details and a copy of the consultation document can be found on BERR's website at http://www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/open-consultations/index.html .
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WEEE Revised Guidance & Business User Factsheet Published
In the last couple of weeks, the UK Government's BERR Department has published revised Guidance Notes for the WEEE Regulations, it corporates the appointment of the VCA for enforcement of the customer facing obligations for distributors. Slight amendments have also been made in the chapters covering DCFs, AATFs, reuse and evidence including formatting and numbering of paragraphs.
BERR has also published a Business User Factsheet, which can be downloaded from the website
Finally you will notice that the WEEE website has been re-vamped, we hope this will make it easier for you to navigate our pages.
The latest documents can be download from http://www.berr.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/weee/page30269.html
Department of Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR)
WEEE Team
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EEE companies need to sign up to a scheme
In what seems like a multitude of warnings to businesses this month, the Environment Agency wants to ensure that companies that import, rebrand or produce Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) are signed up with an approved producer compliance scheme.
Environment Agency head of waste Liz Parkes said: “Around 3,900 producers have signed up for the first compliance period which runs to the end of this year and they will need to renew their registration for next year with any of the compliance schemes available.
“However, we know that there are still some companies out there that need to register for the current year. Our message is simple – join an approved compliance scheme now. Leave it too late and risk enforcement action from us.”
WEEE legislation has been in force in the UK from July 1 2007 and it aims to encourage more recycling, recovery and re-use.
Anyone who imports, brands, or manufactures EEE is a ‘producer’ and has to be registered through an approved WEEE compliance scheme. These schemes have been set up to help those companies affected by regulations by collecting and recycling products on their behalf.
Parkes added: “As we move towards the end of the first compliance period we are still working to help make sure businesses are complying with the new rules. However, if we find a business has flouted the rules and deliberately avoided registering, we will take enforcement action.
“These regulations are about protecting our environment and it is important that everyone plays their part.”
For more information please see www.environment-agency.gov.uk/weee
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Midlands consortium wins battle for new hi-tech institute
Headquarters for a new hi-tech institute will be set up at Loughborough University to help the UK reduce its carbon footprint.
Science and Innovation Minister, Ian Pearson, announced today that Loughborough will host the new Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), as part of a Midlands Consortium. Together with Nottingham and Birmingham Universities it will work on bringing more focus, ambition and collaboration to the UK's work of science.
Mr Pearson said the final short listed bids underlined the huge level of expertise, commitment and potential that exists throughout the UK academic community. The ETI Board made the decision, with Loughborough getting the vote because it offers an outstanding energy innovation environment, based in the University's Science and Enterprise Park.
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Click Here to read complete article.
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£20 million Government funding for environmentally friendly vehicles
£20m of new Government funding will support UK research to develop new low carbon vehicles that could be on the road within 5 to 7 years.
This investment will assist innovative companies taking forward low carbon vehicle research, development and demonstration projects and is being made available by the Technology Strategy Board and the Department for Transport.
This funding, which will support UK based research, is part of the government's Low Carbon Transport Innovation Strategy. This was launched in May and sets out measures that the government is taking to transform the market for lower carbon vehicles.
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Click Here to read complete article.
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Waste evidence programme will help build knowledge
A waste and resources evidence programme to help deliver the UK Government's ambitious waste policies has been outlined today by Defra.
The Waste and Resources Evidence Strategy 2007-2011 summarises the key areas where research will be commissioned and evidence sought over the next few years. The programme will inform delivery of the UK Government's Waste Strategy for England 2007, published in May, which set out priorities on waste prevention, minimisation, recycling, recovery, and energy production.
Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs
Click Here to read complete article.
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Let’s avoid marking mistakes on product safety - Letter to the Editor of European Voice by Orgalime
As usual, when there are concerns (‘Kuneva tells EU laggards to unite against toxic toys’, 6-12 September), regulators call for more legislation or more bureaucratic requirements. But do we really need a so-called better CE marking? The CE marking is already a well-recognised safety mark. What we need to ensure is to check more often that products which bear the CE marking are entitled to do so.
Adrian Harris Secretary-general Orgalime, Brussels
Click Here to read complete letter.
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