Consultancies Ecolas and RPA have just published consultation documents as part of the European Commission’s information gathering exercise preparing the revision of the WEEE and RoHS Directives. There are also some REACH events you may be interested in.

As always, CS Europe welcomes feedback on their WEEE/RoHS web pages and strives to keep them as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Don’t hesitate to let them know if you have better or newer information!

WEEE & RoHS

• TAC meeting, June 20 -- The next meeting of the EU committee that manages implementation of the WEEE and RoHS Directives will be meeting on June 20th. However, it is unlikely that there will be a vote on the latest round of RoHS exemptions at that time. The vote is expected to take place during the Summer.
• EU Study on Economic and Environmental Impacts of WEEE & RoHS -- The European Commission has employed consultancies Ecolas and Risk & Policy Analysts to assist in gathering information on problems being encountered by stakeholders in the implementation of the WEEE and RoHS Directives. The companies have published some questionnaires on which they would like feedback.

We strongly encourage US companies and trade associations to provide feedback on the problems experienced with WEEE and RoHS, since the upcoming revision has the potential to greatly improve the way these pieces of legislation work. The deadline for comment is tight (May 25th), but we believe information provided after that date will be of interest to the European Commission regardless.

The documents are available on CS Europe Team web site at: http://www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion/weee_rohs_revisions.html. You are encouraged to copy CS Europe on your submissions, using this email address: Brussels.EC.Office.Box@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov . All information received will be treated as strictly confidential.

REACH

Many of you may also have an interest in REACH, the EU’s new chemical regulation. The U.S. Mission to the EU is organizing two events to help U.S. companies understand REACH and prepare for compliance.

REACH webinar - 24 May 2007, 11:00 am EST

A one and a half hour on-line presentation, followed by a Q&A session, by experts from the U.S. Mission to the EU and the law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge llp. Registration fee is $50.

For more information and to register, please visit: https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=7Q2N.

REACH seminar - Houston, Texas, 8 June 2007, 7:30 am - noon

A program covering a regulatory overview, as well as legal, business and toxicological perspectives on REACH. Registration fee is $90.

To register, please contact Mr. Duaine Priestley, Tel: 281 449 9406, e-mail: Duaine.Priestley@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov .

For more information on REACH, please see the CS Europe's REACH web pages. If you would like to be added to our REACH distribution list to be kept updated on REACH news, please email us at: Brussels.EC.Office.Box@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov , putting “REACH mailing list” in the subject line.