New legal movement in Europe - EuP Directive
"The Directive 2005/32/EC on the eco-design of Energy-using Products (EuP), such as electrical and electronic devices or heating equipment from 6th July 2005", is the next step after WEEE and RoHS to an environmental-friendly handling of electrical and electronic devices.
The EuP Directive aims to reduce environmental burden and improve environmental performance. The Directive does not introduce directly binding requirements for specific products, but provides a framework for setting eco-design requirements for energy using products before being placed on the market.
The aspect of energy-consumption in the EuP Directive has a big importance during the whole lifecycle of a product. At the moment there are preparatory studies ongoing for 14 product groups:
Lot 1 |
Boilers and combi-boilers |
Lot 2 |
Water heaters |
Lot 3 |
PCs and computer monitors |
Lot 4 |
Copiers, faxes, printers, scanners, multifunctional devices |
Lot 5 |
Consumer electronics: televisions |
Lot 6 |
Standby-and off-mode losses |
Lot 7 |
Battery chargers and external power supplies |
Lot 8 |
Office lighting |
Lot 9 |
Street lighting |
Lot 10 |
Residential room-conditioning appliances |
Lot 11 |
Electric motors |
Lot 12 |
Commercial refrigerators and freezers |
Lot 13 |
Domestic refrigerators and freezers |
Lot 14 |
Domestic dishwashers and washing machines |
Toshiba has been contributing to several preparatory studies by providing technical information and by joining meetings. For more information on EuP please visit the official site of the EU Commission.
WEEE Directive
The European Union Directive 2002/96/EC on WEEE, "Waste from electrical and electronic equipment", is intended to protect the quality of the environment and human health through the prudent use of natural resources, and to improve the reuse, recycling and recovery in order to reduce the amount of disposal of equipment and the contents going to landfill.
The WEEE Directive obliged the twenty-five EU member states to transpose its provisions into national law by 13 August 2004. On 13 August 2005, the WEEE Directive came into force.
Toshiba is preparing all necessary measures to be in compliance with the WEEE Directive, including the transition in each EU-Member State's national law.
Product Information Disclosure - Article 11 of the WEEE Directive:
If you need the treatment related information for our products, please click on one of the product links below.
Home Entertainment (TIU)
Medical Imaging Systems (TMSE)
Storage Devices (DM Company and TEG)
Computer Systems (TEG)
Print, Copy, Fax, Scan and Mail (TGIS)
Store Automation and Barcode Printing (TERIS)
RoHS Directive
The European Union Directive 2002/95/EC on the Restriction of the Use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) is intended to reduce the use of substances that may pose risks to human health or the environment.
From 1st of July 2006 a new product with any of the six hazardous substances (*) cannot be put on the market.
*Prohibited 6 substances:
- Lead (0.1%)
- Mercury (0.1%)
- Cadmium (0.01%)
- Hexavalent chromium (0.1%)
- Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) (0.1%)
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) (0.1%)
Each concentration number in the brackets means maximum allowance for the homogenous material in the product.
Remark: The EU has been studying the exemption items and has already accepted some of them.
