take-e-way News on EPR & Product Compliance

05/27/2020

WEEE Germany: Deadline for submission of the annual statistics notification again postponed by one month

Notifications submitted after 30 April 2020 – which are actually late – will therefore not be forwarded (in coordination with) the Federal Environment Agency as the authority responsible for the prosecution of administrative offences.

05/15/2020

Children’s masks must be safe

Children also want to be protected in corona times. Poorly fitting FFP2 or medical masks often provide worse protection than specially adapted fabric masks (referred to as community masks). It is important in this regard, however, to observe the specific safety requirements for children. In addition to the increased requirements for the absence of harmful substances in the materials, the mask in question must also be mechanically safe. Easily detachable small parts as well as incorrect lengths of the fastening cords can be life-threatening! Recommendation: The relevant safety standards should be observed in the manufacture of children’s masks.

05/15/2020

Dealers of heavy current equipment have special obligations to provide information

Dealers are obliged to provide essential information necessary for use and operation of products before customers take a purchase decision. Accordingly, dealers are obliged to point out the essential circumstances during installation and operation of the goods offered. By means of its service for establishing the marketability of products, trade-e-bility GmbH adapts your product and packaging markings as well as your operating instructions in accordance with the statutory requirements applicable.

05/15/2020

German Packaging Act: Theme papers for (online) retailers and micro distributors

The German Foundation Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) has published various very helpful theme papers on its website. Differentiated according to industry sectors – especially for retail companies, mail order companies, online retailers and micro distributors.

05/05/2020

Dangerous masks due to hasty market roll-out

The current crisis situation has resulted in huge demand for respiratory masks. Yet the task of importing such masks involves a complicated procedure. As a result, some products have entered the European market that do not deliver what they promise, as can be seen in the latest reports on the RAPEX list. RAPEX stands for the European rapid alert system providing for dangerous and non-marketable products to be listed – often resulting in the relevant products having to be recalled. In order to ensure that imports proceed smoothly, a few important points need to be considered, which we have compiled for you here.

05/05/2020

German WEEE legislation (ElektroG): Please check your registered categories - take your chance to use the period of crisis to revise and update your WEEE-compliance matters

Check your assortment of registered products concerning some possible gaps in compliance. take-e-way will be delighted to assist you. For example: According to German ElektroG legislation, electric products are classified as six different categories. For consumer products (products for private use), it happens quite often and unintentionally, that electronic products are not classified correctly according to the electro-legislation. After the crisis, the competent authorities are likely to impose fines and audits. Currently the Federal Environmental Agency in Germany is hiring additional enforcement officers in the sections of WEEE (ElektroG), Batteries Act and Packaging Act. Moreover, please note that in the field of competition law, competitors and associations specialized in warning letters are taking any chance to detect gaps in compliance.

05/05/2020

German government presents draft ordinance banning certain disposable plastic products

Due to the increasing use of short-lived plastic products, which are not very resource-efficient and are often improperly disposed of after use, thus contributing significantly to environmental pollution, it is proposed to prohibit plastic products for which suitable alternatives already exist.

04/22/2020

Will even more dealers soon be affected by the e-waste take-back obligation?

A few days ago, in an interview with the waste management association BVSE the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) outlined the planned amendments to the ElektroG3. Are far-reaching changes possibly imminent for the entire retail sector (stationary AND online)? This can certainly be assumed after this interview. We recommend that you take the forthcoming changes seriously and, as a potentially affected party, inform yourself in good time about your obligations.

04/22/2020

Guide to recyclable and sustainable packaging

Since packaging is often an important element of a product, for instances to provide the necessary protection or to comply with hygiene regulations, the search for alternatives when it comes to materials and packaging is not easy for companies. This is why the Bavarian Chambers of Industry and Commerce, in cooperation with the Resource Efficiency Centre of Bavaria (REZ), has developed a guide for companies to give them an initial introduction to the topic. take-e-way endorses the guide from the BIHK and will be pleased to support you with services required for the production of recyclable packaging.

04/22/2020

ElektroG: B2B registration correctly transferred in October 2018?

To be on the safe side, we recommend that you check your B2B registration thoroughly once again. Of course, you are welcome to contact take-e-way in this regard. take-e-way will then check as best we can whether the transferred registration is correct or whether there is a need for action.

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