Mercury Use in Europe

On 13 February 2003, 2 directives of the European Parliament and of the Council appeared in the official Journal of the European Union :

Directive 2002/95/EC of January 27, 2003 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (ROhS)

And

Directive 2002/96/EC of January 27, 2003 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)

Directive 2002/95/EC stipulates that, from 1 July 2006, new electrical and electronic equipment put on the European market may not contain lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavelent chromium and PBB (polybrominated diphenyls) or PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers).

This applies only to the following categories of electrical and electronic equipment, which are mainly consumer products :

Large household appliances
Small household appliances
IT and Telecommunication equipment
Consumer equipment
Lighting equiment
Electrical and electronic tools
Toys
Automatic dispensers
Electric light bulbs and luminaires in households

This directive does not apply to industrial or professional equipment :

Medical equipment systems
and
Monitoring and control instruments

This directive also does not apply to spare parts for the repair, or to the reuse, of electrical and electronic equipment put on the European market before 1 July 2006.

And last this directive does not apply to the applications listed in the Annex of this directive.

This annex specifies applications of lead, mercury, cadmium and so on, which are exempted from the requirements, because their substitution is technically not feasable or their substitution creates a negative impact on people or the environment (decreased safety or other waste, environmental or technical problems).

The European member states have to bring in force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this directive before 13 August 2004.

Conclusion

Mercury wetted relays, switches and sensors still may be used in professional systems, as in monitoring and control instruments and medical equipment systems, and be sold on the European market after 1 July 2006.

Also, mercury wetted relays, switches and sensors can always be used as spare parts for repair or reuse of every electric or electronic equipment.

Günther Belgium NV will, together with the sector organisations, define and communicate the necessary arguments to defend the use of mercury wetted products for these applications where there is no technical alternative without effecting the safety and the environment in any other negative way.

Patrick Jooken,
Plant Manager Belgium

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