All electrical and electronic equipment is subject to ElektroG. This only does not apply if equipment is explicitly excluded.
Which products does ElektroG apply to?
Electrical and electronic equipment
- Your products are electrical and electronic equipment if they are designed for operation with AC voltage of maximum 1,000 Volt or DC voltage of maximum 1,500 Volt and
- depend on electric(al) currents or electromagnetic fields to be operated correctly or
- serve to create, transmit and measure electric(al) currents and electromagnetic fields.
ElektroG covers not only ‘classic’ electrical and electronic equipment. Products with electrical or electronic components, such as furniture, clothing or lifestyle products can also be within the scope of the law.
Complete piece of electrical/electronic equipment or only component?
Electrical and electronic equipment are always only end devices, meaning ‘complete’ products.
An end device is recognisable because it
- serves an independent function,
- is determined to be used or installed by an end user, and
- it can be installed without much technical effort, even if it must be done by a technically capable person.
Contrary to this, mere components are not subject to the law.
An assembly kit counts as electrical or electronic equipment if it can be assembled as electrical or electronic equipment by an end user.
The European WEEE Registers Network (EWRN) – the Joint Association of the national registers for electrical and electronic equipment of the EU member states – has created a guideline to make it easier to determine the difference between a component and electrical and electronic equipment.
Batteries are not subject to ElektroG, but to the Battery Law (BattG). There is a manual (in German) availbale for download to determine whether batteries or electrical and electronic equipment containing batteries are subject to ElektroG or BattG.