RoHS BattG

The implementation of RoHS in Germany applies to electrical and electronic equipment legislation since March 2005. Among other things, RoHS prohibits the use of soldering and various toxic flame retardants. The use of hazardous substances such as mercury, cadmium, lead, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDES) in production is strictly limited since an amendment to the directive in August 2008.

Exceptions exist for many products, however. This applies especially to articles where no equal substitute is available for the hazardous substance. Among other things, RoHS still allows the use of mercury in rod or compact fluorescent lamps as well as the use of lead in car batteries. For the time being, medical and military technology are completely exempt from RoHS.

BattG stands for the law governing batteries since 1 December, 2009. This implemented a European directive from 2006 designed to reduce the environmental impact of waste batteries. BattG applies new regulations to the labelling and sale of batteries and rechargeable batteries. An important part of BattG is a regulation that obliges manufacturers and distributors to take back waste batteries.