EU - Draft Amendment of Annex III to Directive 2011/65/EU (Use of Certain Lead and Hexavalent Chromium Compounds)

​On 19 January 2018, the Commission received an application made in accordance with Article 5(3) of Directive 2011/65/EU for an exemption to be listed in Annex III to that Directive, for the use of lead and hexavalent chromium compounds in electric and electronic initiators of explosives for civil (professional) use.

Certain lead and hexavalent chromium compounds are used in essential parts of electric and electronic initiators (EEI), such as electric fuse heads, primary explosive charges and pyrotechnic delay charges. EEI are a part of electric and electronic detonators that are primarily used for mining of minerals, construction and demolition activities, as well as in components of integrated rescue systems.

Currently, there are no alternatives for lead diazide, lead styphnate, lead dipicramate, orange lead (lead tetroxide), lead dioxide in EEI and for barium chromate in long time pyrotechnic delay charges of EEI available on the market which would meet all essential requirements in order to ensure safe operation of EEI.

Due to the lack of alternatives, a substitution or elimination of lead diazide, lead styphnate, lead dipicramate, orange lead (lead tetroxide), lead dioxide and barium chromate is scientifically and technically impracticable in certain EEI components. The exemption is consistent with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council2 and thus does not weaken the environmental and health protection afforded by it. 

Therefore it is appropriate to grant the requested exemption by including the applications covered by it in Annex III to Directive 2011/65/EU with respect to electrical and electronic equipment of category 11.

In Annex III to Directive 2011/65/EU, the following entry 45 is added:

"45 Lead diazide, lead styphnate, lead dipicramate, orange lead (lead tetroxide), lead dioxide in electric and electronic initiators of explosives for civil (professional) use and barium chromate in long time pyrotechnic delay charges of electric initiators of explosives for civil (professional) use​

Applies to category 11 and expires on 5 years after the publication of the Delegated Directive in the Official Journal

Final date for comment: 5 September 2020