THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment,(1) and in particular Article 5(1)(a) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Directive 2011/65/EU prohibits the use of lead in electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market.
(2) Platinized platinum electrodes (PPEs) are platinum electrodes covered with a thin layer of platinum black. These electrodes are used when wide-range conductivity measurements are required or for measuring conductivity under strongly acidic or alkaline conditions. Both the substitution or elimination of lead in PPEs and the substitution of PPEs with other types of electrodes are scientifically and technically impracticable under these conditions.
(3) The use of lead in PPEs for wide-range conductivity measurements or for measuring conductivity under strongly acidic or alkaline conditions should therefore be exempted from the prohibition until 31 December 2018. This transition period is necessary for research and unlikely to have adverse impacts on innovation.
(4) Directive 2011/65/EU should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: