Hello all,

just another view on these legal processes:

(from EIATRACK , http://www.eiatrack.org/ , you're company has to be a member to log in)

an earlier message, which shows, that there wasn't a clear decision about this exemption

*****
September 29, 2005

Germany - Restricted Substances Overview

The German Federal Environmental Agency ("Umweltbundesamt" or UBA) has publically opposed the proposed Commission decision to exempt Deca-BDE from the RoHS Directive. The UBA argues that lifting the ban on Deca-BDE would send the wrong signal to industry. Many manufacturers, according to the UBA, have already voluntarily switched to substitutes and an exemption for Deca-BDE would render their investments worthless. 


The UBA has argued that Deca-BDE should be prohibited based on its properties, including its persistence and alleged dioxin and furan release upon combustion.  Further, there are substitutes for Deca-BDE in all areas of its application, the UBA argues.

The proposed decision to exempt Deca-BDE did not get the required qualified majority in the TAC and was thus submitted to the Council.  The Council failed to reach a decision on the proposal before the deadline, which expired earlier this month.  The Commission can now adopt the proposed decision, but Germany's opposition may delay the process. 
*****



-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Leadfree [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Im Auftrag von Fern Abrams
Gesendet: Dienstag, 18. Oktober 2005 03:43
An: [log in to unmask]
Betreff: [LF] FW: EU exempts Deca-BDE from RoHS Directive
Wichtigkeit: Hoch

 
The following press release was issued today by the European Brominated Flame Retardant Industry Panel (EBFRIP):

 

 

EU exempts Deca-BDE from RoHS Directive

Decision enables continued use of the flame retardant Deca-BDE

in electrical and electronics products

 

(Brussels, 17 October 2005) In a Decision published on 15 October 2005[i], the EU has exempted Deca-BDE from the EU's Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)[ii].  This Decision follows an intensive review of all the available information and is the final step in the RoHS regulatory procedure for adopting exemptions. 

 

EBFRIP welcomes this EU decision, which has immediate effect and enables the continued use of Deca-BDE, a highly-effective flame retardant whose use saves lives and reduces fire-related injuries.

 

The Commission's Decision was taken on the basis of the results of a ten-year EU risk assessment which evaluated 588 studies and concluded that the use of Deca-BDE does not pose health or environmental risks.[iii]  The Decision also supports the majority opinion of EU Member States which, on 2 September 2005, voted on the exemption of Deca-BDE with more than twice the number of votes for than against.

 

"This Decision is well-supported by science", declared Dr Dieter Drohmann, EBFRIP Chairman, "It is reassuring news for electronics manufacturers worldwide who use Deca-BDE as their flame retardant of choice.  They can now confidently continue to use Deca-BDE, the most tested flame retardant, for the European market. It provides a predictable business environment and contributes to greater competitiveness in Europe and elsewhere."

 

On fire safety, Dr Drohmann added: "The use of this flame retardant makes a huge contribution to fire safety - many lives have been saved and the incidence of related injuries reduced. The EU's Decision comes at a time when there is growing recognition for greater fire safety measures in Europe."

 

Deca-BDE is a brominated flame retardant used to prevent ignition and slow the spread of fires in the plastic components of electrical and electronics equipment, as well as in the textiles and transportation industries.

 




________________________________




________________________________


________________________________

[i] Commission Decision of 13 October 2005 amending for the purposes of adapting to the technical progress the Annex to Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, OJ L271 of 15 October 2005, page 48.  Please see document at:
http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_271/l_2712
0051015en00480050.pdf

 

[ii]  Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, OJ L37, page 19, 13 February 2003. 

 

[iii]  The exemption of Deca-BDE applications in plastics complies with the procedure established in Paragraph 10 of the Annex to the RoHS Directive, which states: "Within the procedure referred to in Article 7(2), the Commission shall evaluate the applications for: Deca-BDE,
(...) as a matter of priority in order to establish as soon as possible whether these items are to be amended accordingly."

 

 

BSEF has also created a webpage quoting what recognized scientific experts and international research bodies have said about brominated flame retardants - see link http://www.bsef.com/bromine/what_the_experts_say/index.php

 

With kind regards,

Lawrie McLaren
BSEF - Programme Director
Tel: +32 2 733 93 70

BSEF is the international organisation of the bromine chemical industry, whose remit is to inform stakeholders and commission science on brominated chemicals such as flame retardants.

If you like to be taken off the mailing list please reply with unsubscribe in the subject.

 

 


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Leadfee Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Leadfree To temporarily stop/(start) delivery of Leadree for vacation breaks send: SET Leadfree NOMAIL/(MAIL) Search previous postings at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Leadfee Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Leadfree
To temporarily stop/(start) delivery of Leadree for vacation breaks send: SET Leadfree NOMAIL/(MAIL)
Search previous postings at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------