Renata SA Battery Holders - ROHS Compliancy - Manual (Page 7)

25.11.2005 RENATA Key Account Management
Important note concerning batteries and RoHs and WEEE:
As batteries have to be removed from any separately collected WEEE, the question arises to what extent the WEEE and RoHS
Directives apply to batteries and whether batteries containing, e.g., mercury, lead or cadmium can be used in such new equipment
from 1 July 2006.
The Battery Directive 91/157/EEC specifically mentions in its Article 9: “Member States may not impede, prohibit or restrict the
marketing of batteries and accumulators covered by this Directive […]”
This is confirmed by the RoHS Directive which explicitly mentions in recital 9 that it applies without prejudice to the Battery Directive.
This means that the Battery Directive remains applicable to batteries even when used in applications falling within the scope of the
RoHS Directive.
The marketing restriction, as provided for in the RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC on new equipment, does not apply to batteries used
with or incorporated in electrical and electronic equipment.
The WEEE Directive applies to spent batteries collected together with WEEE and requires their removal and separate collection.
Once removed, spent batteries are governed by the Battery Directive.
Therefore, batteries containing lead or cadmium, as well as button cells with a mercury content of no more than 2% by
weight can be used in electrical and electronic equipment after 1.7.2006. This applies to individual cells, battery packs or
batteries attached to the equipment (i.e. soldered to parts of the equipment).
Batteries fall under the battery directive 1991/157/EEC.
Further information