EIATRACK Regulatory Alerts

EPA Issues Revised Energy Star Specification for Audio/Video Products

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 PST

On November 16, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") issued a revised Energy Star specification for audio/video products, establishing new power consumption limits during On Mode, Idle and Sleep Mode, and expanding the product categories eligible for Energy Star status. According to EPA, products that meet the new requirements will be up to 60% more efficient than standard models.

Costa Rica's National Waste Bill Suffers a Set Back

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:00:00 PST

Costa Rica's long-awaited national solid waste bill (Bill 15.897) appears to have suffered a set back in its passage through the unicameral legislature. It is unclear when, or even if, it will be revived.

Norway and Switzerland Product Take-back Reports Updated

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:00:00 PST

The Take-back reports for Norway and Switzerland have now been completely updated, they are available at the following links:

Update: E-Waste Developments in Brazil and Sao Paulo State

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:00:00 PST

At both the national and state levels, Brazil continues to move forward with regulation of e-waste. The long-stagnant Omnibus Waste Bill, which includes EPR for electronics and batteries, appears to be moving toward a vote in the Chamber of Deputies. Sao Paulo state is hard at work on a regulation to implement its new e-waste law for national adoption at the first meeting of the CONAMA E-Waste Working Group.

Comprehensive Battery Take-Back Bill Re-Introduced in Argentina

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:00:00 PST

Perhaps more than any other country in Latin America, Argentina has flirted with the possibility of a national battery take-back law. Dozens of bills have been presented in both chambers of Congress over the last ten years. One was approved by the Senate only to die in the Chamber of Deputies. A comprehensive bill recently introduced in the Chamber of Deputies appears to be an updated version of that 2006/07 initiative. (See Link on earlier initiative.) While the take-back provisions appear onerous, it may be the labeling and certification requirements that present the most logistical challenges.

Chile Working on EPR and Mercury Restrictions

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:00:00 PST

At a recent two-day seminar on the issue of mercury waste, Chile outlined the EPR concepts that appear to be at the center of its emerging new national General Waste Law. Producers and importers of both batteries and electronics, along with other consumer goods, would be responsible for their EOL products, according to presentations by the national environmental agency (CONAMA).

Mexico City Wants Management Plans for E-Wastes in 2010

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:00:00 PST

Mexico City recently released a Draft Program for Integral Management of Solid Wastes 2009-2014 (the "Draft"). Although the Policy imposes no binding requirements, the Draft calls for a Management Plan for e-wastes and packaging.

Management Plans under Brazil�s Battery Take-Back Rule

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:00:00 PST

As reported, Brazil enacted a new battery content and take-back rule (Resolution 401/2008) on November 5, 2008. (See Link for details) Industry has continued to have questions about the complicated standard. In response to queries from several trade groups, including the Brazilian Electronics Industry Association (ABINEE), the Ministry of the Environment�s Hazardous Waste Management office (the �GRP�) issued a Technical Note clarifying certain provisions. Most importantly, it takes the tough stance that Management Plans were due by November 5, 2009. (GRP Nota T�cnica No. 19/2009, Section 3.3)

DOE Proposes Final Rule on Energy Efficiency Standards for Non-Class A External Power Supplies

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:00:00 PST

On November 3, 2009, the Department of Energy (�DOE�) published a notice of its decision to develop energy efficiency standards for non-Class A external power supplies. While it is not proposing the actual standards at this time, DOE uses a set of four �candidate standard levels� for each affected product category as means of determining the feasibility of establishing standards. DOE indicates that the candidate standard levels may become the basis of the standards that it eventually establishes and that it welcomes comments on the candidate levels it selected for the analysis.

EIATRACK News Roundup Issue 3

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:00:00 PST

As we head into a very busy last two months of 2009 (what happened to �down-time�?), we�re pleased to report that the content providers at EIATRACK have updated an extensive amount of critical information for each of the regions, as you�ll read in this issue of EIATRACK New Roundup.