PURPOSE : to establish certain rules on the financial responsibility for the collection, treatment, re-use, recovery and recycling of WEEE from users other than private households.
LEGISLATIVE ACT : Directive 2003/108/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
CONTENT : As a result of concerns expressed, Commission has examined the financial implications for producers following from the wording of Article 9 of Directive 2002/96/EC. The commission found that the take-back obligation for WEEE put on the market in the past creates a retroactive liability for which no provision was made and which is likely to expose certain producers to serious economic risks.
In order to prevent such risks, this Directive provides that the financial responsibility for the collection, treatment, re-use, recovery and recycling of WEEE from users other than private households put on the market before 13 August 2005 should be borne by producers when supplying new products replacing products of equivalent type or fulfilling the same functions. Where such waste is not replaced by new products, the responsibility should be borne by those users. Member States, producers and users may make alternative arrangements.
ENTRY INTO FORCE : 31/12/03.
DATE OF TRANSPOSITION : 13/08/04.�