Duties according to the ElektroG
The ElektroG states that manufacturers have certain obligations towards consumers in terms of labelling and providing information:
Labelling obligations pursuant to ElektroG
- After approval of the registration, companies are obliged to indicate the WEEE registration number when offering and on invoices (§ 6 para. 3 ElektroG).
- Every electrical appliance you place on the market must be marked with a clear identification of the manufacturer (e.g. the brand) as well as the crossed-out waste bin with bars according to DIN EN 50419. The Federal Environment Agency provides the symbol for download.
Additional information about this is available on the website of Stiftung ear (available only in German).
Sample text for fulfilling the duty to provide information pursuant to ElektroG (amended)
The following is an example of how to fulfil your duty to provide information pursuant to §18 and §19a ElektroG. Please note that this is just an example and is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice on your specific case.
1. Disposing of waste electrical and electronic equipment
The crossed-out wheeled bin means that you are obliged by law to dispose of this equipment separately from the unsorted municipal waste collection system. Disposing of it in the residual waste bin or the yellow bin for recyclable materials is prohibited. If the product contains one-way batteries or rechargeable batteries that are not permanently installed, these must be removed before disposing of the product and be disposed of separately as batteries.
2. removal of batteries and lamps
If the products contain batteries and rechargeable batteries or lamps that can be removed from the old appliance without destroying it, these must be removed before disposal and disposed of separately as batteries or lamps. The following batteries or accumulators are included in this electrical appliance: Battery type [please add] (e.g. button cells or AAA+) with the chemical elements [please add] (e.g. lithium or manganese).
3. Ways of returning waste electrical and electronic equipment
Owners of waste electrical and electronic equipment are allowed to return them to those facilities for returning or collecting waste electrical and electronic equipment set up and provided by the public-sector waste disposal authorities, to ensure that the waste electrical and electronic equipment is disposed of correctly.
Distributors: The take-back must be free of charge with the purchase of a similar new appliance. (1:1 take-back) Irrespective of this, it is possible to return the old appliances to the distributor free of charge. The prerequisite for this is that the external dimensions do not exceed 25 centimetres and the return is limited to three old appliances per type of appliance (0:1 take-back).
Retailers: Distributors with a sales area for electrical and electronic equipment of at least 400 square metres are obliged to take back WEEE. Also obliged to take back are food retailers who have a total sales area of at least 800 square metres and who also offer and make available on the market electrical and electronic equipment several times in a calendar year or on a permanent basis.
Distance selling markets: Distributors who sell their products using means of distance communication are obliged to take back WEEE if the storage and dispatch areas for electrical and electronic equipment are at least 400 square metres.
B2B manufacturers: In the case of B2B equipment, take-back does not have to be offered free of charge.
4. Data privacy
We should point out to all end-users of waste electrical and electronic equipment that they themselves are responsible for deleting all personal data from the waste electrical and electronic equipment to be disposed of.
5. WEEE registration number
We are registered as a manufacturer of electrical and/or electronic equipment with registration number DExxxxxxxx at stiftung elektro-altgeräte register, Nordostpark 72, 90411 Nürnberg.
6. collection and recovery rates
Under the WEEE Directive, EU Member States are obliged to collect data on WEEE and to transmit this data to the European Commission. You can find more information on this on the BMUV website (German only).
Notification obligations under the ElektroG
Depending on whether you place B2B or B2C equipment on the market, there are different notification obligations. As part of our notification & registration service at stiftung ear, we inform you about upcoming deadlines. You can find an overview on the homepage of stiftung ear (German only).
Obligation to notify under the ElektroG
The obligation to notify collection points obligation to notify collection points ceases to apply with the entry into force of the ElektroG3.