Commission Delegated Directive 2014/75/EU
of 13 March 2014
amending, for the purposes of adapting to technical progress, Annex IV to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards an exemption for mercury in cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) for back-lighting liquid crystal displays, not exceeding 5 mg per lamp, used in industrial monitoring and control instruments placed on the market before 22 July 2017
(Text with EEA relevance)
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:
Directive 2011/65/EU prohibits the use of mercury in electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market.
Many industrial monitoring and control instruments (IMCIs) are equipped with back-lighting liquid crystal displays that require the use of cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) with 5 mg mercury. The total negative environmental, health and consumer safety impacts caused by substitution of mercury containing CCFLs in industrial monitoring and control instruments are likely to outweigh the total environmental, health and consumer safety benefits thereof.
To enable the repair and prolong the service life of products, an exemption from the restriction of mercury in CCFLs for back-lighting liquid crystal displays in IMCIs should be granted. In accordance with the repair-as-produced principle, the exemption should apply to all products placed on the market before 22 July 2017, which is the compliance date for IMCIs, and the validity period of the exemption should be 7 years from that date. It is unlikely that the exemption will have adverse impacts on innovation.
Directive 2011/65/EU should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: