The DTI is moving forward with its plans to implement the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and EC Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (ROHS).
The responsibility for dealing with WEEE will lie with ‘producers’ and ‘retailers’ of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).

In the summer of 2004 ‘producers’ will have to commence with registration procedures. On 13 August 2005 producers will have to take full responsibility for the financing and retailer take back of WEEE.

Electrical contractors will be included in the producer category in the following cases:

  • when trading as a retailer (distributor);
  • when importing EEE from countries outside the EU – in this instance the importer will be classified as the producer;
  • when manufacturing equipment such as a switchboard and badging it with their company name.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor