What are the Batteries and Accumulators (placing on the market) Regulations?

The Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 aim to control the use of mercury and cadmium in batteries. The Regulations also state that batteries must be marked appropriately and that they can be readily removed from appliances for end of life disposal. The Regulations apply to all types of batteries and to those placing them on the market.
Working in partnership with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The National Measurement Office (NMO) is the market surveillance authority responsible for enforcing the Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations within the UK.
These Regulations implement the Batteries and Accumulators Directive which:
- bans the placing on the EU market of new batteries containing more than agreed levels of cadmium and mercury
- controls the marking of batteries
- sets design requirements on producers of electrical and electronic equipment that contain batteries
Producers of batteries and electrical and electronic equipment need to understand the requirements of the Batteries Regulations to ensure that their products comply.
More information about the Regulations and how to comply can be found throughout the website and by downloading our Batteries Directive Leaflet (PDF, 334 Kb) .
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