The Finnish Government Decree 422/2008 on Batteries and Accumulators entered into force on 26 September 2008. The Decree lays down provisions e.g. for producer responsibility, limitation of dangerous substances, and labelling.
Dangerous substances
It shall not be placed on the Finnish market:
• batteries and accumulators containing more than 0.0005 % mercury by weight;
• portable batteries and accumulators containing more than 0.002 % cadmium by weight;
with the exception of button cells, which may contain up to 2 % mercury by weight, and batteries and accumulators used in emergency and alarm systems, in medical electrical and electronic equipment and in cordless power tools, for which there are no limitations on use of cadmium.
Labelling
Producers are liable to take care of the proper labelling of batteries, accumulators and battery packs placed on the market. The products shall be marked with symbols for separate waste collection and the relevant heavy metal content: Pb, Hg and Cd. In the near future, all portable batteries, accumulators and battery packs as well as automotive batteries shall also carry symbols indicating their capacity.
The costs of waste treatment shall not be shown separately to end-users at the time of sale of new portable batteries and accumulators.
Producer responsibility
As laid down in the new Decree, batteries and accumulators are now within the scope of producer responsibility. The surveillance of the producer responsibility in Finland is attended to by Pirkanmaa Regional Environment Centre in Tampere.
Safety of products powered by accumulators and batteries
The products fall within the scope of the Finnish Electrical Safety Act (410/1996). By this Act, electrical equipment shall be designed, constructed, manufactured, serviced and used in such a manner that they are not hazardous to life, health or property, they do not cause excessive electric or electromagnetic interference, and their functioning is not disturbed by electric or electromagnetic interferences. The responsibility for verifying the product safety lies with the Finnish manufacturer and the Finnish importer of the product.
Safety requirements for accumulators are given in European and international Standards. In Finland, the standardization work in this field is attended to by the national follow-up group of IEC TC 21 Committee of Sesko, Helsinki.
How to use accumulators safely
• Follow carefully the instructions for use; there might be special information on charging.
• Use the right charger.
• Keep an eye on the accumulator-driven product. Should the accumulator become very warm or bulged, remove it immediately from the device.
• Prevent the short-circuiting of the accumulator. Keep your keys, coins, jewellery and water away from the product.
• Do not cause any mechanical damage on the accumulator.
• Keep the accumulator-driven product away from hot objects, e.g. stove, fireplace, iron, heater, car dashboard.
• Mind the polarity when changing the accumulator.
• Dispose of the waste accumulator by taking it to an appropriate recycling station.
Tukes…
• Supervises the conformity of batteries and accumulators brought into the Finnish market with the Decree (422/2008).
• Supervises the safety of products powered by accumulators and batteries (410/1996).
• Informs the manufacturers, importers and distributors about market surveillance in co-operation with the Finnish Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.
• Acts in collaboration with market surveillance authorities in other EES countries.