Regulations Outside The EU

Japan

Currently Japan is under the Green Procurement Practices (JPSSI), and its regulations are even stricter than the RoHS directive. The development of this plan started back in 1998.

China

Finally we are starting to see and understand the similarities and differences between the Directives coming from China and those from the European Union.

As far as the review period is concerned the China version will be reviewed every year whereas Europe currently will be handling this review every 4 years.

China has also added into the Directive certain marking requirements such as "safe use period", Place of origin marking, Material content, toxic substance content and regarding the recycability of the product. Some of this marking can be included in manuals. The "safe use period" refers to the time period that which Hazardous substances contained within an EEE(Electrical and Electronic Equipment) are guaranteed not to leak or mutate, such leaks or mutations could be harmful to the user and the environment. It is still not clear if China will adopt the same exemptions that the European version has presented.

Currently the directive notes that it will cover all electronic products, inclusive of components, the actual substance restrictions and any compliance requirements would initially apply to those products listed in a catalogue published by China's Ministry of Information Industry. These catalogues will be product focused and rumored to be the first deployed will be focused on large volume consumer type products.

USA

The state of California is the first American state to start implementing an environmental regulation on electronic equipment. The Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB20) is intended to come into effect in January 2007. 

Canada

Currently the Electronic Product Stewardship Canada (EPS Canada) is the governing regulation for electronic waste, although the provinces of Alberta and Nova Scotia are currently working on their own legislation.