HC Deb 16 July 2001 vol 372 cc31-2W
Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if it is the policy of her Department that United Kingdom manufacturers should have legal liability for the disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment which was(a) manufactured outside the United Kingdom and (b) manufactured by companies which have ceased trading; [3900]

(2) what regulatory impact assessment (a) has been carried out and (b) will be carried out into the proposed EU directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment; [3909]

(3) what assessment she has made of the impact of the proposed waste electrical and electronic equipment directive upon (a) the retail price of electrical and electronic goods and (b) the competitiveness of United Kingdom manufacturers of such goods; [3910]

(4) what assessment her Department has made of the impact upon UK manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment of the requirement in the draft waste electrical and electronic equipment directive that they should be responsible for products sold before adoption of the directive and for products the manufacturer of which has ceased trading; [3901]

(5) what her Department's policy is on the proposed EU waste electrical and electronic equipment directive; and if she will make a statement. [3908]

Mr. Wilson

The Government support the common position text of the draft waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive agreed at the Environment Council of Ministers meeting of 7 June 2001.

The directive will help to provide a common framework for all member states in an area where some individual member states had already started to adopt national legislation. The effect on retail price and competitiveness of UK manufacturers will partly depend on the domestic implementation option adopted. The Government will seek to achieve the environmental objectives while minimising the cost burden placed on business through the implementing of legislation, alongside the maintenance of a level playing field.

The common position text would require "producers" to provide for the financing of the environmentally sound treatment, recycling and disposal of WEEE. This definition of "producer" goes wider than manufacturers. For the majority of goods manufactured outside the United Kingdom it will be the professional importer who will bear the responsibilities of "producer".

The financing method for the management of WEEE arising from "producers" who have ceased trading will be dependent upon the United Kingdom implementing regulations. The common position text would require producers to provide for this financing either when electrical/electronic goods are placed on the market or when arising as waste. The detail of these cannot be agreed until the directive is adopted and published in the Official Journal of the European Community.

For all goods placed on the market before adoption of the directive (historic WEEE), irrespective of whether the manufacturer is still trading or not, the common position text would require all existing producers to provide the financing on a proportionate basis.

Initial regulatory impact assessments (RIA) have been placed in the Library of the House of Commons. There will be a further update when the formal common position text is submitted to the House following the Commission's juriste/linguiste procedure.