European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/53/EC relating to ?End of Life? vehicles entered into force on 21 October 2000. It establishes the producer responsibility for the recovery and the recycling of all new vehicles put on the market after 1st July 2002 and introduces some restrictions in the use of certain dangerous substances. Member States had to implement the Directive before 21 April 2002 but for the time being; only Germany has notified the national measures to the Commission.
As requested in art.4.2 of the End-of-Life Directive, a revised version of Annex II has been published on the OJ on the 29 June 2002. This annex lists some exemptions from the prohibition concerning the use of cadmium, lead, mercury and hexavalent chromium in vehicles, since the use of this hazardous substances is still unavoidable in specific materials or components. For more details
Summary of the legislation
Directive 2004/12/EC (amending Directive 94/62/EC) covers all packaging placed on the market in the Community and all packaging waste, whether it is used or released at industrial, commercial, office, shop, service, household or any other level, regardless of the material used. The Directive establishes criteria clarifying the definition of the term 'packaging'. Clear examples are given in Annex I, such as tea bags, which are non-packaging, and the film overwrap around a CD case or labels hung directly on or attached to a product, which are packaging. This Annex replaces Annex I to Directive 94/62/EC.
Directive 94/62/EC requires Member States to take measures, which may include national programmes, to prevent the formation of packaging waste, and encourages them to develop packaging reuse systems.
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Summary of the legislation
On 18th June 2003, the European Commission has adopted a Communication on Integrated Product Policy (IPP), outlining its strategy for reducing the environmental impact caused by products throughout their whole life-cycle, whether from their manufacturing, use or disposal.The IPP seeks to minimise those impacts by looking at all phases of a products? life-cycle and taking action where it is most effective.
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Summary of the IPP
