Environmental requirements and the CE Mark new areas for a harmonized approach to compliance

This paper reviews new product environmental legal requirements now associated with the CE Mark in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Turkey which impact Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment. The CE Mark, as it is today, has been in place in the EEA as a conformity marking for over 20 years. When present on a product, it signifies the product is in conformance with the EU legislation that applies often called European Union harmonization legislation. For products such as ICT equipment, existing applicable EU legislation included, for example, low voltage and electromagnetic compatibility. In 2005, the EU published the first Directive which requires CE Marking for environmental criteria, in product energy efficiency. Following in 2011 the EU published the directive recasting the Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) which requires the CE Mark on products to signify compliance to this legislation as well. This common, harmonized approach to marking and compliance will be reviewed and impacts assessed for ICT products with a look into the future for the new areas planned or proposed for product compliance requirements.