The "Elektrogesetz" (ElektroG, Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act)

The "Elektrogesetz" implements the two European Directives WEEE and RoHS. The law not only manages the initial "putting on the market" of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), but also the return and the environmentally sound disposal of waste equipment (WEEE). Furthermore, it limits the proportion of six specific hazardous substances (lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and cadmium) in products under the scope of the "Elektrogesetz". Specific for the practical handling of the law are the high degree of buerocracy, and thus, high efforts.

The "Chemiegesetz" (ChemG, Protection against Hazardous Substances Act)

The German "Chemiegesetz" combines different, relevant EU directives regarding chemicals. Above all, it implements the numerous modifications resulting from the REACh directive in Germany. However, due to the focus on the properties of appropriate products, REACh compliance is handled on a European level anyway.

The "Verpackungsverordnung" (VerpackV, Packaging Ordinance)

Although the German Packaging Ordinance already exists since 1998, it has since been updated by several amendments. The largest part of the current 5th release of the "Verpackungsverordnung" went into force beginning of 2009. One of the key tasks for producers under this ordinance are the exemption from the take-back obligation for sales packaging, different reporting tasks, and maybe also the licensing of a recycling logo. Following the 5th amendment of the German Packaging Ordinance, the quasi-monopoly of the "Duales System Deutschland GmbH) (DSD: "Der gruene Punkt") that existed until the end of 2008 was displaced by an oligopoly of officially certified "Dual Systems".

The "Batteriegesetz" (BattG, Battery Act)

To respect the recent modifications resulting from the European Batteries Directive (BATT), the existing German Batteries Ordinance ("Batterieverordnung") was replaced by the Batteries Act ("Batteriegesetz") end of 2009. It covers the putting on the market, collection, and waste management of batteries and accumulators. While the different requirements from the European Directive were transposed into German law, the already existing take-back schemes were maintained. A national register is operated by the German Federal Environment Agency ("Umweltbundesamt").

The "Energiebetriebene-Produkte-Gesetz" (EbPG, Energy Using Products Act)

The Energy Using Products Act ("EBPG") tranposes the European EUP directive into German law. Prioritised along the relevance in terms of energy efficiency, product groups and so-called "implementing measures" are defined that come into effect setp by step. The EUP Act amends the requirements under the European CE directive.