The electrical and electronics equipment law is the implementation of the European WEEE directive in Germany. The abbreviation WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and in this sense for the disposal of old electrical equipment.
The Stiftung Elektro-Altgeräte Register (EAR) is responsible for monitoring and ensuring legally compliant licensing. Every company that wants to sell electrical goods in Germany must be registered with its products with the EAR and have a WEEE registration number.
Note: In any case, we will support you in advance in compiling the necessary documentation for the various types of device, clarifying the labeling requirement and selecting the right concept for an insolvency-proof guarantee.
The aim of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act is to ensure that electronic equipment is properly disposed of and recycled by manufacturers, importers and dealers.
End users can hand in normal household quantities of electrical goods free of charge at over 1,500 regional collection points in Germany. We offer customers easy support with registration and data reporting.
The current WEEE directive describes which electrical devices are covered by and assigned to the ElektroG. A distinction is made between 6 categories, which are also decisive for the recovery rates to be achieved (costs incurred).
Main category of our customers, category 5 (small appliances): Category 5 applies to the products of the majority of our customers and also forms the basis for calculating the costs incurred for the insolvency-proof guarantee.
Heat exchangers (of any size) are electrical devices with integrated circuits in which substances other than water - e.g. gases, oils, coolants and refrigerants or secondary materials - are used for cooling / heating or dehumidification.
Screen (devices) and monitors (of any size) are electrical devices used to display images and information on an electronic screen, regardless of the size of the screen. Devices that contain screens with a surface area of more than 100 cm² also fall into this category.
Lamps (of any size) are devices for generating light (§ 3 number 14 ElektroG). This includes lamps (illuminants) as exchangeable electrical devices that are mostly intended for use in lights. Lamps are usually made of ceramic, metal and glass or plastic and have a standardised base.
Electrical devices with at least one outer dimension more than 50 cm, but which are not already included in categories 1-3, as these categories are more specific.
Electrical devices with the largest outer dimension less than or equal to 50 cm, but which are not included in categories 1-4 or 6, as these categories are more specific.
Electrical devices whose purpose is to collect, transmit, edit, store and display information (information technology devices) and electrical devices for the electronic transmission of signals - voice, video and data - over spatial distances (telecommunications technology devices), in each of which the largest outer dimension is less than or equal to 50 cm, which is not already covered by categories 1-4, as these categories are more specific.
Using the example of WEEE, it can be clearly shown why registration is so important and what penalties threaten if the regulations are not followed.
The following applies: All manufacturers and distributors of electrical and electronic equipment must register on the official website of the target country before placing the product on the market. Without registration, it is an illegal sale and there are legal consequences.
Failure to register can result in warnings and fines with a maximum fine of 100,000 euros.
Failure to comply may result in a ban on sales in relevant countries.
If the sales ban is not observed, profits from ongoing business activities can be confiscated.
Refusal to pay a fine may result in a conviction of criminal detention.