RoHS

The RoHS Directive stands for "the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment".

This Directive by the EU came into force on 1st July 2006 and applies to any electrical or electronic equipment both industrial and domestic. For promotional gifts, this will include calculators, clocks, radios, pedometers and USB's.

The Directive bans the import to the EU market of new electronic and electrical equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated pbiphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants.

Manufacturers need to understand the requirements of the RoHS Directive to ensure that their products and their components comply. However the onus is actually on the Purchaser to ensure that all promotional products they purchase are compliant with these regulations. All promotional items and business gifts supplied by TransWorld Incentive Gifts are compliant with this Directive.

WEEE

The WEEE Directive stands for Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment. This Directive aims to minimise the impacts of electrical and electronic equipment on the environment during their life times and when they become waste. It applies to a huge spectrum of products. It encourages and sets criteria for the collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment and makes producers responsible for financing most of these activities.

The WEEE Directive aims to conserve landfill and support more sustainable development by providing an impetus to boost recycling. Products which are affected by this Directive are indicated by the ‘crossed out wheelie bin’ sign which is usually displayed on the instructions leaflet.