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Update on December 4th, 2020:
The amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles has been approved on November 26th, 2020. The supplementation of 23 kinds of electrical and electronic will take effect from January 1st, 2021, and the 4 kinds of phthalate esters in the products will be restricted from July 1st, 2021.
On July 9, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) issued a legislative notice [1] to solicit public comments on the amendment to the enforcement decree of the Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles (hereinafter referred to as Act on Resource Circulation of Electronic Products, etc.). The amendment major focuses on the expansion of the scope of the electrical and electronic products (EEPs) which are subject to restrictions on the use of hazardous substances and the supplement of 4 kinds of phthalate esters to the list of hazardous substances that are restricted to use in EEPs. The consultation was concluded 10 days after the issuance of the legislative notice.
Previously, 26 kinds of EEPs were subject to hazardous substances restriction, e.g. refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, etc. 23 kinds of products will be added this time, including the dehumidifier, electric massager, scanner, etc. The total number of restricted product kinds will increase to 49. The product scope is expanded gradually: “10 kinds in 2008” → “26 kinds in 2013” → “23 kinds added in 2020” ⇒ 49 kinds in total. All product kinds that are subject to the restriction are listed in Table 1.
Table 1. EEPs Subject to the Restriction on the Use of Hazardous Substances
Category | Kinds |
Current (26 kinds) | Television, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, personal computer, printer, copying machine, fax machine, electric water purifier, electric oven, microwave oven, food processor, tableware dryer (including dishwasher), electric bidet, air purifier, electric heater, loudspeaker box, electric rice cooker, water softener, humidifier, electric iron, electric fan, blender, dust collector, video player, and mobile telephone terminal |
To be added (23 kinds) | Vending machine, avigraph, wired and wireless router, treadmill, scanner, food dryer, drug-decocting machine, electronic frying pan, video game machine, electric water heater, foot bath machine, sewing machine, bread maker, dehumidifier, coffee maker, dehydrator, toaster, fryer, hair dryer, projector, electric massager, monitor camera, and electric kettle. |
In addition, 4 kinds of phthalate esters, namely diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), which have negative effects on human health and environment are added to the list of hazardous substances that are restricted to use in electrical and electronic products. The current 6 hazardous substances listed are Lead, Mercury, Hexavalent chromium, Polybrominated biphenyls, Poly brominated diphenyl ethers, and Cadmium. According to provisions of the amendment, EEPs manufactured or imported must strictly comply with the standards of hazardous substance contents at the manufacturing stage. Specifically, for Cadmium, the content standard is less than 0.01% by weight (wt) in the same substance, and for the other hazardous substances, the content standards are less than 0.1% by weight (wt) in the same substance.
According to the notice, Lee Young-ki, a resource recycling policy officer at the MoE, said “This amendment introduces international environmental standard (e.g. EU RoHS) to domestic environmental legislation, to carry out preventive management for contents of hazardous substances” and “to improve external competitiveness of domestic enterprises and prevent environmental pollution and minimize potential risks to public health by restricting the hazardous substances”.
The amendment is scheduled to enter into force on January 1, 2021, and it applies to the products manufactured and imported thereafter. Products manufactured and imported before December 31, 2020, shall comply with former provisions and transitional measures will apply. Another legislative notice will be issued again before the amendment implemented on January 1, 2021, after discussion with the industry.
