NordenBladet — The Bill on Amendments to the Waste Act, the Act on Amendments to the Waste Act, and the Act on Amendments to the Waste Act and Other Associated Acts, initiated by the Government, which will bring the Waste Act into conformity with European Union law, passed the second reading at today’s plenary sitting of the Riigikogu.
The Bill (15 SE) will amend the Act on the basis of the relevant European Union directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Based on the directive, the Waste Act will be amended by introducing the term “waste electrical and electronic equipment”, and the terms “medical device” and “in vitro diagnostic medical device” will be specified.
The Bill will amend the provisions of the Waste Act on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. It will also amend the provisions concerning the placing on the market thereof which are connected with the hazardous substances used in equipment.
In the European Economic Area, it is prohibited to place on the market electrical and electronic equipment and its components containing lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, cadmium and, starting from 22 July 2019, also certain phthalates.
The Bill will specify the definition of components of electrical and electronic equipment which also covers cables and spare parts for its repair, its reuse, updating of its functionalities or upgrading of its capacity.
The committee made three technical motions to amend the Bill, and moved to include the Bill in the agenda for the sitting of the Riigikogu on 12 June for the third reading.
Source: Parliament of Estonia