Asekol > Producers and importers > Batteries and accumulators > Ban on Hg and Cd
Ban on Hg and Cd
Along with the amendment of the amendment to the Waste Act, the ban on marketing of batteries containing more than 0.002% of cadmium came also into effect 26th September 2009. To what extent this ban will affect the widespread nickel-cadmium accumulators?
- The ban on placing on the market concerns only the so-called portable nickel-cadmium accumulators. They are hermetically sealed portable-in-hand accumulators purported not only for the professional but also consumer applications.
- Also, the ban applies to nickel-cadmium accumulators attached or built-in to various electric devices (such as amateur handheld transceivers, cordless phones, accumulator-powered vacuum cleaners, computer motherboards, etc.)
- On the other hand, the ban does not apply to all industrial nickel-cadmium accumulators purported solely for the professional use as well as accumulators intended for specifically military and space programme purposes.
- In addition, the ban does not apply to portable nickel-cadmium accumulators placed on the market before 26th September 2009 and intended for the use in emergency and safety system, including emergency lighting, for medical equipment and cordless phones. These exceptions will be reviewed by the European Commission by September 2010.
- Nickel-cadmium accumulators falling under this ban and placed on the market before 26th September 2009 need not be withdrawn from the market by their respective manufacturers.
The obligation to mark all nickel-cadmium accumulators with the graphic symbol (the symbol of crossed-out wheeled dustbin), under which the ‘Cd’ symbol must be shown remains in power. The compulsory marking of the relevant accumulator capacity has been newly introduced; however an exact methodology or implementation rule is still missing.
As of the above-shown date, it is forbidden to place on the market mercury-containing batteries. An exception is represented only by button cells, where the chemical symbol must be used along with the marking.
Published on: 08. 12. 2009
Author: Ing. Karel Krejsa