The main contents of the new directive:
1. Modification of restrictions on the use of mercury and cadmium in batteries;
2. Labeling requirements for the new batteries, which will provide assistance to consumers in purchasing and recycling;
3. Modification of the labeling requirements for the content of lead, mercury, and cadmium;
4. Recycling rate targets for discarded portable batteries;
5. a ban on landfilling and incineration of industrial and automotive waste batteries;
6. the addition of a "manufacturer's responsibility" provision;
7. that batteries must be removable from the product (except for those that must be permanently attached for reasons of safety, performance, medical care or data integrity);
8. as of September 26, 2009, portable and automotive batteries should have a capacity stated on the label. The European Commission is working on a regulation on the capacity labeling system;
9. Manufacturers (including those selling products with batteries and accumulators) will need to be registered in each member state.
Restrictions on Hazardous Substances:
1. Prohibit the production and sale of batteries or accumulators containing more than 0.0005% of the total amount of mercury (exempted products: button cell batteries shall not contain more than 2% of the total amount of mercury);
2. Prohibit the production and sale of portable batteries or accumulators containing more than 0.002% of the total amount of cadmium (exempted products: cordless power tools, medical equipment, emergency lighting equipment, emergency lighting equipment, power tools, power tools and other devices). , medical equipment, emergency lighting equipment, emergency and alarm systems).
Labeling Requirements:
All batteries, accumulators, and button cell batteries shall bear the crossed out wheeled garbage can symbol. If the product contains more than 0.0005 percent mercury, or more than 0.002 percent cadmium, or more than 0.004 percent lead, the chemical symbol of the metal exceeding the limit shall be appended under the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol and the chemical symbol shall occupy at least one-fourth of the area of the crossed-out wheeled garbage can symbol. If a battery or accumulator contains more than one of the above metals, this will require a separate chemical symbol. For example, a battery containing more than 0.004% lead (pb) and more than 0.0005% mercury (Hg) should have both the pb and Hg symbols.
1. The symbol shall cover 3% of the area of the largest side of the battery, accumulator or battery pack, but shall not be larger than 5 x 5 centimeters;
2. If the battery is cylindrical, the symbol shall cover 1.5% of the surface area of the battery or accumulator and shall not be larger than 5 x 5 centimeters;
3. If, because of the area constraints, the symbols may have dimensions smaller than 0.5 x 0.5 If the size of the symbol may be less than 0.5 x 0.5 cm due to area constraints, the battery, accumulator or battery pack itself does not need to be labeled, but the symbol should be printed on the package with an area of not less than 1 x 1 cm;
4. The symbols should be clearly visible and impossible to be removed
Remarks:
1. The labeling limits for mercury and cadmium are the same as the regulatory content limits. Therefore, the Hg symbol actually only applies to button cell batteries, the Cd symbol only applies to exempted batteries and accumulators, while other types of batteries and accumulators with mercury and/or cadmium content exceeding the limits are prohibited from production and sale.
2. Batteries signed and placed on the market on September 26, 2008 can continue to be sold with no time limit. Batteries sold on the market after this date should comply with the requirements of the new directive.
3. According to the new cadmium limits, nickel-cadmium batteries can no longer be used (except for exempted products), so they can only be replaced by nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries or lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
4. Consumers should also be informed of the potential effects of these substances, proper disposal methods, details of recovery and recycling programs, and the meaning of symbols.