New Battery Regulations for Businesses

New regulations have been launched for businesses wishing to put batteries on the UK market, coming into place on 26th September 08.

The Batteries & Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 set out technical requirements for producers of batteries and battery-powered appliances, including:

-  Materials prohibitions - restrictions on the use of mercury and cadmium

-  Labelling - the application of the 'crossed out wheeled-bin' and the chemical symbols for lead, mercury or cadmium

-  Waste Batteries - manufacturers of certain appliances will be required to design them in a way that waste batteries can be readily removed

For further information and guidance for those affected by the new requirements please visit the Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) website at: www.berr.gov.uk/sectors/sustainability/batteries/page30610.html