http://www.eiatrack.com EIATRACK - The global benchmark in environmental intelligence and product oriented regulatory tracking for the electronics industry en-us copyright (c) 2005 EIATRACK Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:45:28 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=1660 On November 19, 2008, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation imposing restrictions on the sale of children's products containing lead. Senate Bill 2860 would amend the "The Lead Poisoning Prevention Act" (the "Act") by prohibiting the sale of certain children’s products that contain a total lead content in any component part that is more than 40 parts per million, unless that item bears a warning statement that indicates that at least one component part of that item contains lead. S.B. 2860, 95th General Assembly, § 6(b). This amendment would impose requirements on children’s products with smaller amounts of lead than addressed under the current Act, which bans the sale of toys with more than 600 parts per million of lead. 410 Ill. Comp. Stat. 45/2, 45/4. Sun, 23 Nov 2008 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=1661 The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittees on Environment and Hazardous Materials and Oversight and Investigations announced this week an investigation of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) implementation and enforcement of e-waste export regulations. In a letter dated November 18, 2008, the Committee and Subcommittee chairmen raised concerns that most exported e-waste is unregulated and that regulations governing the export of CRTs are not properly enforced, which “portrays our country as turning a blind eye to illegal exports.” As part of the initial investigation, EPA must respond by December 1, 2008 to a series of questions attached to the letter. Sun, 23 Nov 2008 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=1662 This EIATRACK Alert advises members of new Asia-region content that is in the process of being finalized for uploading to the EIATRACK site. Sun, 23 Nov 2008 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=1656 The Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT) has amended a proposed law to provide additional restrictions on the content levels of substances that can be harmful to health and environment. The original proposal, which was released in May 2007, was intended to restrict the use of 18 substances in “consumer products.” The legislation was due to come into force by January 2008, but after industry comments the proposal has been withdrawn for revisions. The current proposal covers only 10 substances. Mon, 17 Nov 2008 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=1657 On 28 October 2008, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) released the so-called Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) for authorisation. The list currently includes 15 substances and will be regularly updated, when more substances are identified as SVHC. Substances on the Candidate List may become subject to the REACH authorisation regime by decision of the European Commission. Mon, 17 Nov 2008 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=1658 On November 10, 2008, the Basel Action Network ("BAN") announced that it will be leading the development of a new recycling certification program for North American recyclers of electronic waste called the "e-Stewards Initiative." The Initiative will be developed in partnership with the Electronics TakeBack Coalition and 32 electronics recyclers. It is scheduled to be piloted in 2009 with a full launch of an ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board certification system with third-party auditing by 2010. Among the 14 “e-Steward Founders” are Waste Management Recycle America and Sims Recycling Solutions. Mon, 17 Nov 2008 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=1653 Mexico City has quietly extended its existing battery collection program to include used cell phones. Thu, 13 Nov 2008 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=1655 Citing the health and environmental hazards of improper disposal, Sao Paulo state's Secretary of the Environment hosted a one-day statewide e-waste collection drive in conjunction with the state's three hundred plus municipalities on October 30, 2008. Thu, 13 Nov 2008 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=1650 On November 5, 2008, Brazil's CONAMA published its long-awaited amendments to its 1999 battery content and take-back rule - new Resolution 401/2008 (repealing Resolution 257/99). The new Resolution goes into effect on November 5, 2008, although some obligations will require implementing standards and others will not apply to existing manufacturers and importers for twelve or twenty-four months. Wed, 12 Nov 2008 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=1651 Costa Rica continues to advance toward enactment of a progressive framework solid waste law as part of its greater Solid Waste Plan (Spanish acronym "PRESOL") adopted earlier this year. (See Link below on PRESOL.) As reported, Costa Rica unveiled an entirely new bill, titled the “Law on Integral Waste Management” (Bill 15.897 or the “Bill”) in 2007 that included a broad extended producer responsibility section that could feasibly cover all electric and electronic products. (See Link below on the Bill.) The Environment Committee in Costa Rica’s unicameral legislature recently approved a revised version of the Bill for debate before the plenary session. Now would be an opportune time for public comments to be submitted on the Bill. Wed, 12 Nov 2008 0:00:00 CST