Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Extended producer responsibility for electronics: producers must register in each EU country where they sell, finance the collection and recycling of e-waste, and mark products with the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol. It is a waste-law obligation, separate from CE marking.

Read the official text

Applies to

All electrical and electronic equipment ('open scope' since 15 August 2018) placed on the EU market, with limited exclusions. Duties fall on 'producers' — which includes distance sellers shipping directly to customers in a Member State where they have no establishment.

Key obligations

01Register as a producer in the national WEEE register of each Member State where you place EEE on the market before selling there (Article 16).source
02Finance at least the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of WEEE from private households (Article 12; Article 13 covers non-household WEEE) — in practice usually via a producer compliance scheme.source
03Distance sellers: appoint an authorised representative in each Member State where you sell but are not established, to fulfil the producer obligations there (Article 17).source
04Mark EEE with the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol shown in Annex IX (Article 14(4)), plus a mark identifying that it was placed on the market after 13 August 2005 (Article 15(2)).source
05Give users information about not disposing of WEEE as unsorted municipal waste, available take-back systems and the meaning of the symbol (Article 14(2)); give treatment facilities free re-use/treatment information for each new type of EEE (Article 15(1)).source

Conformity routes

No conformity assessment — registration and scheme membershipWEEE has no CE-style conformity assessment. Compliance means being registered in each country of sale (directly or via an authorised representative), reporting quantities placed on the market, and financing collection/recycling, typically through joining a national compliance scheme.source

Documentation

National producer register entries and registration numbersMany Member States require the WEEE registration number on invoices/webshop; requirements vary nationally.source
User informationInstructions/packaging must inform users about separate collection and the crossed-out bin symbol.source
Treatment information for recyclersFree of charge, identifying components, materials and the location of dangerous substances (Article 15).source

Marking requirements

Affix the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol (Annex IX) to the EEE; exceptionally, where size or function requires, print it on the packaging, instructions and warranty instead.source
Mark the equipment so the producer is identifiable and so it is clear it was placed on the market after 13 August 2005 (Article 15(2)).source

Testing standards

Harmonised and designated standards lists change over time: confirm the currently cited version before testing.

EN 50419 (unverified)

Key dates

2014-02-14Transposition deadline for the recast WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU.source
2018-08-15'Open scope' begins — the directive applies to all EEE rather than the original category list.source

Penalties

Member States lay down their own penalty rules (Article 22); they must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Non-registration is a common enforcement trigger and can block sales in several countries.source

Further guidance

Frequently asked

Do I need to register for WEEE in every EU country I sell to?+

Effectively yes. Producer registration is national, so selling into a Member State (including online direct-to-consumer) triggers registration there. If you have no establishment in that country, you must appoint an authorised representative to register and comply on your behalf.

What does the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol mean and is it mandatory?+

It tells users the product must not go in unsorted household waste and must be collected separately. It is mandatory on all EEE (Annex IX of the directive); only where size or function makes that impossible can it go on the packaging and documents instead.

Is WEEE part of the CE marking?+

No. WEEE is waste legislation — no Declaration of Conformity and no CE relevance. But it is enforced: unregistered producers can face fines and sales bans, and marketplaces increasingly ask for WEEE registration numbers.

Does WEEE apply to small gadgets and accessories?+

Yes. Since the open scope began on 15 August 2018 the directive covers essentially all electrical and electronic equipment, regardless of size, unless a specific exclusion applies.

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