General
This directive, like many other European compliance directives, is not directly applicable, but requires legislative action from European Member States. Though European directives are legislation, European Union Member States must comply with them to avoid legal action that the European Commission can bring to bear if they don't. However Member States retain some freedom by what means they implement a directive's requirements.
The battery directive has the objective of improving the environmental performance of batteries by regulating the use of certain substances in the manufacture of batteries e.g., lead, lead-acid, mercury, cadmium, etc., and setting standards for the waste management of these batteries. Many European member states have passed battery and waste management laws. Among those nations are: Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, and others. Finland and Denmark have supported a total prohibition of battery cadmium. Belgium and Sweden have battery recycling rates of 59% and 55%. With the finalization of the 2006 Battery Directive, European states now have specific guidelines to which to make rules to comport.
Read more about this topic: Battery Directive
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