WEEE: Things You Wanted to Know, Yet Have Never Dared to Ask

During August 2005, the WEEE Directive will be formally applied. In this directive, it was decided upon that by August 2004 all EU member states will bring into force transposing laws and by 13 August 2005 these laws will have to become effective in every state. On the surface, therefore, selling electric and electronic products around Europe should not be complicated. So it seems, but the situation is different. 

At this current stage, the outcome is one of confusion and uncertainty.

First, even though this directive instructs all EU member states to transpose it into national legislation being a "framework directive", the way of transposition varies from country to country. Therefore, it is necessary to be familiar with the laws that were passed already and the ones that will be passed in the various member states and to follow their directions. Examples see in the continuance of this article.

Second, still today, shortly before the implementation of the directive in the member states, there are many unclear issues which creates genuine distress with companies that wish to prior organize themselves legally for continuation of sales in the European market. 

In this list we focused on a few practical questions we encounter during the process of accompanying companies in their preparation to follow the WEEE Directive, in the European Union and in other countries in the world, which adopt this model of ruling.

The questions chosen are only a small part of questions companies encounter daily, while trying to prepare themselves for the continuation of electrical and electronic equipment sale, even after the WEEE laws.