Interpretation of batteries in the European Directives

In the EU, the RoHS Directive became effective on July 1, 2006, to restrict the use of designated hazardous materials like mercury, cadmium, and lead included in specific electronic and electrical equipment. Paragraph 9 in the preamble to the directive clearly states that the battery directives shall take precedence.

In November 2003, The EC Environment Committee proposed the new battery directive (2006/66/EC), which was enacted in September 2006, and in paragraph 29 of the preamble, it states that the RoHS Directive does not apply to batteries used in electrical and electronic equipment.

In contrast, based on the WEEE Directive, used batteries and batteries removed from electrical and electronic equipment are treated based on the Battery Directive. For processing purposes, battery packs are required to indicate recycle marks and other marks, and these marks are used for collection and recycling.

Based on the above, the BAJ's interpretation is that "battery" is defined by the WEEE Directive, RoHS Directive, and Battery Directive as battery units that have become easier to remove and that must be collected and properly marked, in other words, those batteries that are eventually sold to consumers, whether individual battery unit or battery packs.