MEPs ban cadmium from power tool batteries and mercury from button cells

摘要

Cadmium will be banned from portable batteries and accumulators used in cordless power tools from 31 December 2016, following a vote by the European Parliament last week. Mercury will be banned from button cell batteries from autumn 2015. The ban, already agreed with EU ministers, applies to batteries containing more than 0.002 per cent of cadmium by weight in tools such as drills, screwdrivers and saws. MEPs also inserted a clause banning mercury from button cells from autumn 2015 after a transition period of 21 months following the entry into force of this directive.