Scope of the WEEE Directive

The WEEE Directive applies to all whole product that is dependent on electrical current or electro-magnetic fields.

There are certain exemptions from the WEEE Directive. See this flowchart to help you assess whether your products come under its scope.

There is a general exemption for electrical and electronic equipment that operates above 1,000 Volts AC or up to 1,500 Volts DC. There are also a range of other specific exemptions which are discussed elsewhere in this toolkit.

Components, sub-assemblies and consumables

If components, sub-assemblies and consumables (e.g. batteries, tapes, and disks) are present in a product within the scope of the regulations at the time that product is separately collected, they are subject to the requirements of the Agencies' treatment guidance.


Guidance on specific exemptions from the WEEE Directive

Products intended specifically to protect national security and for a military purpose

This exemption is interpreted to mean equipment that has a specific application only in fields such as arms, munitions and war material. It does not apply to equipment that is used to protect national security and/or has a military purpose but is not solely for these purposes.

Filament light bulbs

This exemption applies to all light bulbs that emit light through the use of a filament.

Household luminaires

These are regarded as the immediate structures surrounding a lamp, including the lamp holder or socket with a standard three pin plug and/or designed to take a light bulb together with other attachments fixing this to the wall, or ceiling or the body of a free-standing lamp. However, luminaires used in commercial premises are covered by the regulations.

Large-scale stationary industrial tools

This is a machine or system consisting of a combination of equipment, systems or finished products and or components each of which is designed to be used in industry only, permanently fixed and installed by professionals at a given place in an industrial machinery or in an industrial building to perform a specific task.

Implanted or infected medical equipment

This applies to all medical equipment that has been implanted or has otherwise come into contact with blood or other biological contaminants prior to end-of-life.


Other product types that are deemed to be outside the scope of the WEEE Directive

It should be noted that this guidance represents a view from the DTI. Ultimately, producers will want to take their own legal advice on questions of scope.

		Products where electricity is not the main power source The regulations cover only those products dependent on electricity to function properly. An example might be an electric thermostat for a gas heating system. The electric thermostat will be considered to be in the scope of the regulations, but the gas heating system will not.
		Products where the electrical or electronic components are not needed to fulfil the primary function Some products, particularly toys and novelty items, contain an electrical or electronic element to give added value. Often there are similar products on the market fulfilling the same function, but without these components. Examples might include musical greetings cards. These products still fulfil their primary function without their electronic components and could be considered to be outside the scope of the Directive.
		Items which are electrical and electronic equipment that is part of another type of equipment or a fixed installation Equipment that is part of another type of equipment or system is considered to be outside the scope of the regulations (e.g. a car radio). Equipment may also be part of a fixed installation. A “fixed installation” is defined as a combination of several equipment, systems, finished products and/or components assembled and/or erected by an assembler/installer at a given place to operate together in an expected environment to perform a specific task, but not intended to be placed on the market as a single functional or commercial unit.

Using the criteria discussed previously, it is possible to take a view as to whether certain grey area products are included or not under the scope of the WEEE Directive:

		Gas central heating with electric pumps, timers and controls - the built-in heating system is excluded, although the externally mounted monitoring and control equipment is covered, provided it can be separated from the main system.
		Replacement computer hard drive - this is excluded as it is a component or sub-assembly of a computer. However, peripheral hard drives sold as separate equipment would be included in the scope of the regulations.
		Lighting equipment for use on aircraft - this is designed to be part of an aircraft, which falls outside the scope of the Directive.