Are you confident you understand your legal requirements?

• Are you manufacturing, importing or branding electronic products, if so, you need to make sure you understand your obligations as a ‘producer' under the new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations.
• Are you retailing or distributing electronic products, if so, you need to make sure you fully understand your obligations as a ‘distributor'.

Producers must be registered with an approved producer compliance scheme. There are 37 producer compliance schemes to choose from. They are all listed on the Environment Agency's website. Compliance schemes will organise the collection, treatment and recycling of household equipment which is deposited by consumers at designated collection facilities on your behalf. For waste business products, producers need to arrange to collect and recycle waste equipment or organise alternative arrangements to ensure that it is not disposed of to landfill. Some compliance schemes can also provide recycling services for waste business products on your behalf.

Producers must also make sure that their equipment is marked with a crossed-out wheelie bin symbol and a date mark. British Standard BS EN 50419:2006 can be used to meet these requirements. You will also need to make sure your products are marked with a unique producer mark, for example a ‘brand' or ‘logo'. For all new models of products, producers must also make sure recycling information is available for waste management and recycling companies within one year.

You will be considered a distributor under these Regulations if you sell or provide electrical equipment directly to household users, for example, as a retailer. As a retailer you will be known as a ‘distributor' under these Regulations. Even if you run a retail store selling just a few items of electrical or battery-powered products, you will need to offer in-store take back of waste products when selling new products or you need to be a member of the ‘Distributor Take Back Scheme' or DTS.

If you feel you would like further information on these regulations, you can read more about the details in the Government Guidance document and other background information which can be found at on the BERR website and click on WEEE.

You might also like to attend a short business briefing on the legislation. BERR, previously known as the DTI, is running a series of sessions around the UK. If you want to find out about a session in your area, please follow the link to download details: Business Briefing Details document or EMAIL with ‘Business Briefing Dates' in the title.

Issued by the Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform August 2007