On October 5, 2018, the Ministry of Environment announced a public notice of a proposed amendment to the Presidential Decree of Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles (“RCEEV”) to broaden the scope of products subject to recycling obligations.
The provision on the scope of electrical/electronic products and products subject to recycling and collection, and the provision on the expansion of restricted hazardous substances are expected to become effective on January 1, 2020 and July 22, 2019, respectively.
Key Aspects:
The scope of electrical/electronic products and products subject to recycling and collection, for which the use of hazardous substances is restricted, has been expanded from 26 products to 49 products. The additional products subject to restriction include daily commodities such as dehumidifiers, toasters, electric kettles, electric water heaters, and hair dryers.
The scope of hazardous substances, whose use is restricted when used with electrical/electronic products, has also expanded from five substances to nine substances. Di-EthylHexyl Phthalate (DEHP), Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) were added to the existing list, which includes lead and mercury.
Significance:
Once the proposed amendment is enacted, the scope of the RCEEV will be significantly expanded and associated obligations will be heightened. Therefore, businesses that manufacture, import or sell electrical/electronic products should check whether their products fall under the newly added 23 products, and whether any of the newly restricted hazardous substances are being used.
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