http://www.eiatrack.com EIATRACK - The global benchmark in environmental intelligence and product oriented regulatory tracking for the electronics industry en-us copyright (c) 2005 EIATRACK Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:00:16 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=2066 A Congressman in Argentina's Chamber of Deputies has re-introduced his 2007 WEEE Bill in the new 2010 legislative session. That proposal (now known as Bill 0187-D-2009 or the "Bill") seeks to hold manufacturers, importers, and merchants of a broad range of electric and electronic products liable for restricting use of hazardous substances, designing for the environment, and educating the public on proper disposal. The Bill is a verbatim reproduction of the 2007 version covered in detailed in an earlier Regulatory Alert, we provide a link to that coverage below. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=2067 Making good on promises to focus on energy conservation, Mexico has posted a draft energy efficiency standard for certain electric motors. The draft rule sets out efficiency limits, test methods, and labeling standards for covered equipment. Interested parties have sixty days to submit comments. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=2068 More and more often, states and municipalities are leading the way in environmental regulation in Latin America. In line with this trend, the City of São Paulo recently stepped ahead of the emerging CONAMA resolution on fluorescent lamp wastes and passed its own take-back bill. (See Link on CONAMA initiative.) The City Council passed a revised bill that will hold manufacturers and re-sellers responsible for collecting discarded fluorescent lamps from merchants (Bill 372/09 or the “Bill”). The Bill is now before the City’s executive branch awaiting final approval. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=2069 The U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT") Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration ("PHMSA") held a well-attended public meeting at DOT headquarters in Washington, D.C. on March 5, 2010, regarding their notice of proposed rulemaking (“NPRM”) to greatly increase the safety requirements for transportation of lithium cells and batteries, especially transportation by air. 75 Fed. Reg. 1302 (Jan. 11, 2010). (See Link for background.) At the meeting, presenters questioned the overall basis for the proposed rule and the cost-benefit analysis used to support it, raising many new issues and foreshadowing the content of more extensive and detailed written comments, which are expected to be submitted in the next several days. According to many presenters, the NPRM would have a substantially larger and broader impact on industry supply chains, consumers, international trade, and the overall U.S. economy than PHMSA’s analysis to date has acknowledged. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=2065 The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has launched a public consultation on its proposal to identify 8 chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and possible candidates for authorisation under the REACH Regulation. The substances concerned are (1) boric acid; (2) tetraboron disodium heptaoxide hydrate; (3) disodium tetraborate anhydrous; (4) potassium dichromate; (5) ammonium dichromate; (6) potassium chromate; (7) sodium chromate; and (8) trichloroethylene. Identified uses and applications of these substances are listed in a table in the ECHA’s press release attached to this EIATRACK Regulatory Alert, and include soldering products (boric acid), flame retardants (disodium tetraborate anhydrous and tetraboron disodium heptaoxide hydrate), and manufacture of pigments/inks (potassium chromate). Tue, 09 Mar 2010 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=2064 TIA introduces the latest in the ongoing series of ICT Green Boot Camps on March 18, 2010 in Silicon Valley. ICT Green Boot Camp will highlight the issues of sustainable solutions for energy and the environment. Come join this important discussion and catch up on the latest trends in Green ICT. Mon, 08 Mar 2010 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=2063 As reported, Costa Rica has been contemplating adoption of an e-waste regulation since 2006. In 2007, the Ministry of Health proposed a version that would have established a nationwide e-waste take-back program covering a wide-range of electronic products. (See Link below.) Now, almost three years later, a revised draft of that proposal is reportedly very close to final enactment, awaiting only final approval by the executive branch. If enacted later this year, manufacturers, importers, and merchants of covered electronics will be directly responsible for their EOL covered products. Costa Rica is often a bellweather leader in Central America so if adopted, could well serve as a model for other jurisdictions. Tue, 02 Mar 2010 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=2058 EIATRACK held conference calls this week with subscribers from around the world to update them on progress with the service and obtain feedback on key development issues. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=2059 Late last year, Brazil's CONAMA resurrected plans to regulate disposal of fluorescent lamps. Although CONAMA began the regulatory process in 2001, the effort was archived shortly thereafter. The new Working Group on Mercury Lamp Waste (the “Working Group”) met on January 27, 2010 to begin drafting a new resolution that would include EPR and reverse logistics principles. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 0:00:00 CST http://www.eiatrack.org/reg_alerts/regulatory_alert_detail.php?id=2060 Sao Paulo state continues to move forward with its ambitious plans not only to regulate e-waste (see Link below), but to facilitate its disposal in the meantime. The state Secretary of the Environment, working in conjunction with an NGO (Instituto Sergio Motta), has created a new tool for citizens to easily locate an e-waste collection site. The site (www.e-lixo.org) uses Google maps to pinpoint the registered e-waste collection site nearest the address entered. According to the new website, this effort is a direct result of a 2008 campaign by the state to collect batteries, cell phones, and other EOL electronics. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 0:00:00 CST