Bob, The following is my personal interpretation of the battery directive, it does not reflect Hughes Network Systems opinions. Use at your own risks, take only at meal times with plenty of water, not for use with small children, batteries not included, may the road rise to meet your feet and the wind be at your back, etc.
This will briefly summarize for you the requirements of the Battery Directive (91/157/EEC with amendment 93/86/EEC). This Directive has not had the publicity which was given to the EMC Directive, but it has been in force since January 1, 1994 and it must be met to sell in countries which are members of the European Union. The purpose of the directive is to ensure the recovery and controlled disposal of spent batteries and accumulators containing dangerous substances (Article 1). The directive applies to batteries which contain more than 25 mg mercury per cell, to batteries with more than 0.025 % Cadmium by weight, and to batteries with more than 0.4 % Lead by weight. The directive also prohibits batteries of Alkaline Manganese with more than 0.025 % mercury by weight (unless they are intended for prolonged use in extreme conditions, where up to 0.05 % mercury is allowed). Button cell batteries of Alkaline Manganese are exempt from this prohibition. (Article 3). The directive requires that batteries be marked (1) to indicate that a separate collection is necessary (see below for the marking symbol and size), (2) that the battery is to be recycled (if recycling is appropriate), and (3) with its heavy metal contents. The directive also requires that appliances which contain batteries be marked with the same information as the batteries (i.e. collection, recycling, heavy metal contents). (Article 4). Next, the directive requires that the batteries be readily removable from the appliance by the consumer. There are exceptions to this readily removable requirement, but even if the batteries are not required to be readily removable, there is no exception to the marking requirements. Also, when taking the exception to being readily removable, one must provide instructions informing the user of the content of environmentally hazardous batteries and show the user how they can be removed safely. The exceptions to readily removable are: (1) in Information Technology Equipment, batteries used to preserve memory and data functions are not required to be removable if they are soldered in place, (2) reference cells in scientific and professional equipment are not required to be removable, (3) batteries used in medical devices such as pacemakers are not required to be removable, and (4) in portable appliances where replacement by unqualified persons could present a safety hazard to the user, the batteries are not required to be removable. (Article 5) Battery and Appliance Marking The symbol to be used for marking the battery and/or the appliance was established by the 93/86/EEC Directive. It delineates the separate collection marking symbol, consisting of a roll out recycling container crossed through, see below. (Article 2). The size of the label is to cover 3 % of the area of the largest side of the battery, but does not need to be bigger than 5 x 5 cm (approximately 2 x 2 inches). For smaller batteries, where the symbol would be smaller than 0.5 by 0.5 cm (approximately 3/16 x 3/16 inches) the label can be put on the package instead, but must be a minimum of 1 x 1 cm (approximately 3/8 x 3/8 inches). (Article 4). The symbol for heavy metals, namely Hg, Cd, or Pb, must be printed below the separate collection symbol and be at least 1/4 the size of the separate collection symbol. (Article 4). All markings must be visible, legible, and indelible. (Article 4). Gabriel Roy Hughes Network Systems MD ------------------------------- snip ---------------------------------------------------- I have heard bits and pieces of an EU Battery Directive. I am not sure what this is, and have very little information regarding this directive. Could you guys please respond and provide me some insight into this directive? I would appreciate greatly! Thanks in advance for your responses! Thank You, Robert L. Terry [email protected] 313-994-0591 Ext.235
