New controls on WEEE imports into Spain
Last January, a new control on imports of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) from third countries came into force in accordance with Royal Decree 993/2022. The aim of this law is to comply with the European regulation on substances in EEE known as the RoHS Directive, and compliance with the Directive on waste EEE, known as WEEE.
How the control is carried out
Royal Decree 219/2013, Royal Decree 110/2015 and Royal Decree 27/2021 assign SOIVRE as the import control authority. In addition to the SOIVRE controls, the control of hazardous substances in EEE (RoHS) and control of the obligation to register in the Integrated Industrial Register (RII) of importers of EEE and WEEEs are added to the SOIVRE controls.
The inspection by the SOIVRE will be carried out in the designated customs areas, depending on the entry of the material into the country. In addition to the inspection, the following documentation will be requested:
- Description of the product
- Design and manufacturing drawings
- List of harmonised standards
- Design calculation results
- Test reports
In addition to these requirements and with the publication of the new Royal Decree 993/2022, which comes into force on 16 January 2023, the aim is to streamline controls prior to release for free circulation.
A RoHS single point of entry will be created, which is based on ensuring that the goods comply with European regulations on the restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. This regulation restricts the use of six substances at defined levels:
- Lead – 1000 PPM
- Mercury – 100 PPM
- Cadmium – 100 PPM
- Hexavalent chromium – 1000 PPM
- Polybrominated biphenyls – 1000 PPM
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers – 1000 PPM
It will be allowed to advance the documentation through the DOCUCICE document repository, a document repository used by SOIVRE to manage the technical documentation submitted by the interested parties in the field of safety controls of industrial products, as well as in the RoHS controls of electrical and electronic equipment.
When the goods enter national territory, the customs clearance agent will send the SAD document or C88 form in the case of UK and the SOIVRE certificate to customs. With all these documents presented, the goods can be released. However, if only the SAD is presented, customs will not clear the goods.
This new regulation applies to new WEEE products or those destined for reuse. However, the pre-inspection control does not apply to electronic scrap.
Why is it necessary to regulate imported electronic products?
Electrical and electronic equipment generally includes parts and components made from materials of various origins. Thus, once their life cycle is over, they become hazardous waste if not properly managed. This then becomes a serious environmental problem and a risk to human health.
For this reason, legislation on the restriction of substances in EEE and on the management of WEEE is in force. Both are fundamental pieces of legislation affecting product design, pollution prevention and the efficient use of material resources, key objectives of the EU’s Integrated Product Policy.
From ScrapAd we hope we have clarified all the concepts about the new WEEE import controls in Spain. If you are a waste manager or you generate waste and you are interested in waste electrical and electronic equipment, register for free on our platform and you will be able to buy or sell this waste, as well as negotiate the price that suits you best.