WEEE Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive In order to handle the increase of electronic equipment waste, reduce the burden on landfill sites and incinerators and prevent hazardous materials from electronic equipment from entering the environment, the EU passed the “Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive” (WEEE) on January 27, 2003.  It requires manufacturers to collect, recycle and properly dispose of waste electrical and electronic products. 

RoHS Restriction o f Hazardous Substance Since July 1, 2006, products that contain lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated diphenyl (PBBs) are not sold on the EU market.  The management of these six substances is in the following table:  

RoHS	Application Area	ppm
Pb	solder, cable, wires, plastic, component polishing, pigments, paints......	<1000ppm
Hg	switches, Liquid Crystal Displays(LCD), batteries, electrical assemblies and lamps	<1000ppm
Cd	power supply cords, wires, switch contacts, plastic, pigments, paints......	<100ppm
Cr+6	surface treatment of external case	<1000ppm
PBB	flame retardants in plastic and printed circuit board	<1000ppm
PBDE	flame retardants in plastic, rubber and printed circuit board	<1000ppm

EuP(Eco-Design Requirements for Energy Using Products, EuP)The EU energy using product eco-design directive, stipulates that products that use energy must fulfill eco-design requirements.  The directive aims to increase energy efficiency and environmental performance for the products. 

The Kyoto ProtocolThe Kyoto Protocol aims to reduce emissions of six kinds of gases.  They are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides and three other gases that replace halocarbons in CFCs.  These gases are mainly produced as a by-product of industrialization and cause global warming.  These gases also may bring about an environmental disaster for future generations.  The protocol also calls for voluntary reduced greenhouse gas emission targets.