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Batteries

batteries Community legislation on batteries applies to all batteries (exception: batteries used in equipment connected with the protection of Member States' essential security interest and batteries in equipment designed to be sent to space).

The Directive aims at minimising the negative impacts of batteries and accumulators on the environment and also harmonising requirements for the smooth functioning of the internal market. To achieve these objectives, the Directive introduces measures to prohibit the marketing of some batteries containing hazardous substances. It contains measures for establishing schemes aiming at high level of collection and recycling of batteries with quantified collection and recycling targets. The Directive sets out minimum rules for producer responsibility and provisions with regard to labelling of batteries and their removability from equipment.

Legislation

Summary of EU Waste Legislation on Batteries and Accumulators

New Legislation

  • Q&A on the Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC (November, 2012)

  • Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators and repealing Directive 91/157/EEC entered into force on 26 September 2006. Consolidated version.

  • Corrigendum to Article 12(4) of the Directive 2006/66/EC cs en

  • Directive 2008/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2008 amending Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission.

  • Directive 2008/103/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 amending Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators as regards placing batteries and accumulators on the market

  • Commission Decision 2008/763/EC establishing, pursuant to Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, a common methodology for the calculation of annual sales of portable batteries and accumulators to end-users

  • Commission Decision 2009/603/EC establishing requirements for registration of producers of batteries and accumulators in accordance with Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

  • Commission Decision 2009/851/EC establishing a questionnaire for Member States reports on the implementation of Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators

  • Commission Regulation (EU) No 1103/2010 establishing, pursuant to Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, rules as regards capacity labelling of portable secondary (rechargeable) and automotive batteries and accumulators

  • Commission Regulation (EU) No 493/2012 of 11 June 2012 laying down, pursuant to Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, detailed rules regarding the calculation of recycling efficiencies of the recycling processes of waste batteries and accumulators

     

Proposed Legislation

On 26 March 2012, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Directive amending Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators as regards the placing on the market of portable batteries and accumulators containing cadmium intended for use in cordless power tools. The official publication will take place through EUR-Lex shortly, in all EU languages. In the meantime, the following documents are already available:

Process leading to the new legislation

Old Legislation

Directive 2006/66/EC repeals and replaces the existing Community legislation on batteries:

  • Directive 91/157/EEC on batteries and accumulators containing dangerous substances

  • Commission Directive 93/86/EEC adapting to technical progress Council Directive 91/157/EEC on batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances

  • Directive 98/101/EC adapting to technical progress Council Directive 91/157/EEC on batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances

Reports

Commission reports

  • Commission report of 2 December 2010 on the exemption from the ban on cadmium granted for portable batteries and accumulators intended for use in cordless power tools [COM(2010) 698 final - Not published in the Official Journal]

Studies

Disclaimer: Please note that studies carried out for the European Commission contain the results of research by the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission.

Events

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