DIRECTIVE 2002/95/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 27 January 2003
on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
and in particular Article 95 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of Regions (3),
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty in the light of the joint text approved by the
Conciliation Committee on 8 November 2002 (4),Whereas:
(1) The disparities between the laws or administrative measures adopted by the Member States as regards the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical
and electronic equipment could create barriers to
trade and distort competition in the Community and
may thereby have a direct impact on the establishment
and functioning of the internal market. It therefore appears necessary to approximate the laws of the Member States in this field and to contribute to the protection of human health and the environmentally sound recovery and disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment.