The following steps will help you work out if you need to comply with the regulations.
Check the main power source for your electrical equipment
An item must meet the following definition in order to fall within the scope of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations:
- equipment which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work properly, or
- equipment for the generation, transfer and measurement of such currents. 'Dependent' means that the equipment needs electricity (for example, not petrol or gas) as its primary energy
Here are some examples:
- the main purpose of a massage chair is to provide a massage and cannot be regarded solely as a piece of furniture; it requires electricity to provide its main purpose and is within scope of the regulations.
- a gas heated tumble dryer requires electricity to power the tumbling action. The item is dependent on electricity to work properly and is within the scope of the regulations
Check the voltage rating
If your product's main power source is electricity, you need to check the voltage rating.
What to do if your product's main power source isn't electricity
The regulations don't apply to products that can achieve their main purpose without electricity.
Here are some examples:
- a gas cooker is outside the regulations because although it may use electricity for a timer and clock, its primary energy source is gas
- a talking teddy bear is outside the regulations although it may use batteries to make it talk, it's still a teddy even with the batteries removed: it doesn't require electricity to provide its main purpose
What if I don't need to comply with the regulations?
If you've checked and decided that your product's main power source isn't electricity, so you don't need to comply with the regulations, then follow the next steps to find out what documentation you need to keep.
