Redmond, WA - February 25, 2004: Two senior officials of the U. K. government met today with high-tech executives in the first of its kind detailed briefings on newly adopted EU environmental laws. U.S. electrical and electronics manufacturers will soon have to comply with far-reaching environmental policy requirements for high-tech products if they intend to sell their products into the European Union.

Mark Downs and Steve Andrews conducted the briefings. Both are senior officials at the Sustainable Development Branch of the U. K. Department Trade and Industry (DTI). They are charged with representing the UK as part of the European Union's Technical Adaptation Committee. This committee is designing the actual regulations to enforce the recently enacted Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive and the Restrictions on the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

This seminar was for any electronics manufacturing company at any stage in the line of creation of products. WEEE is the Directive for electronics waste that covers both past and future disposal of electronics items. RoHS is the Directive that covers the materials used in the manufacturing of future electronics items. Even if the product is only a component, all manufactures must comply to have their components included in EU bound products.

The seminar also included presentation by Ken Rivlin an attorney with Allen & Overy, specializing in environmental issues and EU Directives. Working with AeA, he wrote a booklet for AeA members covering the latest WEEE and RoHS Directives.

In addition, Joe Johnson of Microsoft, and Sturger Wagner of Honeywell described how the regulations impact their operations. Microsoft, Honeywell and other companies within the high tech industry must make these regulations a reality in their product line. The strict nature of these new EU environmental policies impact product innovation, cost, functionality, and corporate liability. Manufacturers will be required to finance the recycling and disposal of most electronics waste and eliminate the use of six hazardous materials, including lead.

The seminar format included detailed PowerPoint presentations punctuated with a steady stream of questions and feedback from participants. Some interesting points of discussion, which highlight the complexities of these new regulations included:

• There are standards of materials to be used in manufacturing, but no details available as yet on how those standards will be measured.
• Some standards must be implemented identically across of all of the EU, but others may be implemented differently in the member companies.
• Ready or not, these regulations take effect in August 2004 for all electronics being shipped to the EU.
• Many of these regulations have also been adopted in China and California

To view a copy of these presentations please click below:

DTI Presentation,Allen & Overy Presentation, AeA Presentation,Honeywell Presentation, and Microsoft Presentation

This special program was held at Honeywell's Redmond, Washington campus. AeA's Washington Council Communication & Events Director, Rhonda O'Neill managed the program.  The EU environmental seminar was led by AeA's Jennifer Guhl Director of International Policy in Washington DC. AeA has been working on behalf of its member companies and with EU government institutions during the development of these laws over the part eight years

This page was last updated on 03/05/04.  
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