Germany launches product registration under revised WEEE rules

New German rules on the registration of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) considerably widen the scope of the products which have to be registered. From 15 August 2018 onwards, all EEE falls within the scope of application unless it is explicitly excluded by a statutory exemption.

The rules are contained in the 2015 revision of Germany‘s Act Governing the Sale, Return and Environmentally Sound Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (the ElektroG). The ElektroG implements a 2012 revision of the EU’s waste electrical and electronic equipment Directive (the WEEE Directive).

The new rules aim at increasing the rate of old appliances and devices to be properly disposed of and recycled. This means that manufacturers and distributors of previously registration-free devices must register and thereby participate in the disposal costs.

For certain products, the registration requirement depends not only on the nature but also on the intended use.