Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the exercise of the power to adopt delegated acts conferred on the Commission pursuant to Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment

Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (the RoHS Directive) lays down rules on the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) with a view to contributing to the protection of human health and the environment, including the environmentally sound recovery and disposal of waste EEE.

RoHS Directive Annex II lists restricted substances; RoHS Directive Annex III and IV list applications exempted from the restriction. The Directive empowers the Commission to adopt delegated acts with regard to three different provisions, in view of:
- the specification of detailed rules for complying with maximum concentration values by weight in homogeneous materials as specified in Annex II of the Directive;
- the adaptation of Annexes III and IV to scientific and technical progress, both for inclusion and deletion of exemptions from the restriction;
- the review and amendment of the list of restricted substances in its Annex II.

The present report is required under Article 20(1) of the RoHS Directive. Pursuant to this provision, the power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from 21 July 2011 and the Commission is required to prepare a report in respect of delegated powers, at the latest 6 months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be automatically extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council revokes it.