Description of socio-economic impacts

• Author: Clemm, Christan; Löw, Clara; Baron, Yifaat; Moch, Katja; Möller, Martin; Köhler, Andreas R; Gensch, Carl-Otto; Deubzer, Otmar
• Pages: 32-33

RoHS Annex II Dossier, final

Five cobalt salts

32

9. DESCRIPTION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS

9.1. Approach and assumptions

The scope of this assessment requires a review of possible socio-economic impacts related to a

scenario in which the substances under assessment (five cobalt salts) were to be added to the list

of restricted substances specified in Annex II of RoHS 2. This would restrict the presence of these

substances in EEE to be placed on the market in the future.

However, as has been specified in the sections above, these compounds are used in plating

processes of relevance to the manufacture of EEE, but do not remain in the final products in their

compound form. These manufacturing processes are considered to be sufficiently covered by the

restriction proposal under REACH affording a high level of protection.

In this sense, it is assumed that a restriction under RoHS of the five cobalt salts would not be

effective: RoHS restricts the presence of substances present in EEE placed on the market and

thus would not affect substances used in manufacture, assuming these do not remain present in

the final product to be placed on the market. Against this background it is generally assumed that:

•Substitution would not take place, seeing as the applications do not contain these substances

and would still be allowed on the market;

•The choice of related EEE available to consumers would not be expected to change, nor the

properties and characteristics of such EEE;

•The amount of related EEE reaching end-of-life and subject to waste management would not be

expected to change as a result of the restriction;

•Potential impacts of substitution on health and or environment during use and or the waste

phase would thus not be expected.

9.2. Impact on chemicals industry

As the compounds do not remain present in the final product, it is assumed that manufacture could

continue without change. In this sense the chemicals industry would continue manufacture as

usual.

9.3. Impact on EEE producers (OEM58 manufacturers and supply chain)

As the compounds do not remain present in the final product, it is assumed that manufacture, both

of OEMs and the supply chain, could continue without change. In this sense EEE producers and

their supply chain would continue manufacture as usual.

9.4. Impact on EEE users

As the compounds do not remain present in the final product, it is assumed that manufacture could

continue without change and thus also the placing on the market of relevant products.

58 OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer