This text is meant purely as a documentation tool and has no legal effect. The Union's institutions do not assume any liability for its contents. The authentic versions of the relevant acts, including their preambles, are those published in the Official Journal of the European Union and available in EUR-Lex. Those official texts are directly accessible through the links embedded in this document

This Directive lays down measures which aim, as a first priority, at the prevention of waste from vehicles and, in addition, at the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of end-of life vehicles and their components so as to reduce the disposal of waste, as well as at the improvement in the environmental performance of all of the economic operators involved in the life cycle of vehicles and especially the operators directly involved in the treatment of end-of life vehicles.

1. This Directive shall cover vehicles and end-of life vehicles, including their components and materials. Without prejudice to Article 5(4), third subparagraph, this shall apply irrespective of how the vehicle has been serviced or repaired during use and irrespective of whether it is equipped with components supplied by the producer or with other components whose fitting as spare or replacement parts accords with the appropriate Community provisions or domestic provisions.

2. This Directive shall apply without prejudice to existing Community legislation and relevant national legislation, in particular as regards safety standards, air emissions and noise controls and the protection of soil and water.

3. Where a producer only makes or imports vehicles that are exempt from Directive 70/156/EEC by virtue of Article 8(2)(a) thereof, Member States may exempt that producer and his vehicles from Articles 7(4), 8 and 9 of this Directive.

4. Special-purpose vehicles as defined in the second indent of Article 4(1)(a) of Directive 70/156/EEC shall be excluded from the provisions of Article 7 of this Directive.

5. For three-wheel motor vehicles only Articles 5(1), 5(2) and 6 of this Directive shall apply.

1. In order to promote the prevention of waste Member States shall encourage, in particular:

2. Member States shall also take the necessary measures to ensure that all end-of life vehicles are transferred to authorised treatment facilities.

3. Member States shall set up a system according to which the presentation of a certificate of destruction is a condition for deregistration of the end-of life vehicle. This certificate shall be issued to the holder and/or owner when the end-of life vehicle is transferred to a treatment facility. Treatment facilities, which have obtained a permit in accordance with Article 6, shall be permitted to issue a certificate of destruction. Member States may permit producers, dealers and collectors on behalf of an authorised treatment facility to issue certificates of destruction provided that they guarantee that the end-of life vehicle is transferred to an authorised treatment facility and provided that they are registered with public authorities.

Issuing the certificate of destruction by treatment facilities or dealers or collectors on behalf of an authorised treatment facility does not entitle them to claim any financial reimbursement, except in cases where this has been explicitly arranged by Member States.

Member States which do not have a deregistration system at the date of entry into force of this Directive shall set up a system according to which a certificate of destruction is notified to the relevant competent authority when the end-of life vehicle is transferred to a treatment facility and shall otherwise comply with the terms of this paragraph. Member States making use of this subparagraph shall inform the Commission of the reasons thereof.

4. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the delivery of the vehicle to an authorised treatment facility in accordance with paragraph 3 occurs without any cost for the last holder and/or owner as a result of the vehicle's having no or a negative market value.

Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that producers meet all, or a significant part of, the costs of the implementation of this measure and/or take back end-of life vehicles under the same conditions as referred to in the first subparagraph.

Member States may provide that the delivery of end-of life vehicles is not fully free of charge if the end-of life vehicle does not contain the essential components of a vehicle, in particular the engine and the coachwork, or contains waste which has been added to the end-of life vehicle.

The Commission shall regularly monitor the implementation of the first subparagraph to ensure that it does not result in market distortions, and if necessary shall propose to the European Parliament and the Council an amendment thereto.

5. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that their competent authorities mutually recognise and accept the certificates of destruction issued in other Member States in accordance with paragraph 3.

To this end, minimum requirements for the certificate of destruction shall be established. That measure, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 11(3).

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that all end-of life vehicles are stored (even temporarily) and treated in accordance with the general requirements laid down in Article 4 of Directive 75/442/EEC, and in compliance with the minimum technical requirements set out in Annex I to this Directive, without prejudice to national regulations on health and environment.

2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that any establishment or undertaking carrying out treatment operations obtains a permit from or be registered with the competent authorities, in compliance with Articles 9, 10 and 11 of Directive 75/442/EEC.

The derogation from the permit requirement referred to in Article 11(1)(b) of Directive 75/442/EEC may apply to recovery operations concerning waste of end-of life vehicles after they have been treated according to Annex 1(3) to this Directive if there is an inspection by the competent authorities before the registration. This inspection shall verify:

in order to achieve the objectives referred to in Article 4 of Directive 75/442/EEC. This inspection shall take place once a year. Member States using the derogation shall send the results to the Commission.

3. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that any establishment or undertaking carrying out treatment operations fulfils at least the following obligations in accordance with Annex I:

Treatment operations for depollution of end-of life vehicles as referred to in Annex I(3) shall be carried out as soon as possible.

4. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the permit or registration referred to in paragraph 2 includes all conditions necessary for compliance with the requirements of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3.

5. Member States shall encourage establishments or undertakings, which carry out treatment operations to introduce, certified environmental management systems.

6. Annex I shall be amended according to technical and scientific progress. That measure, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 11(3).

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to encourage the reuse of components which are suitable for reuse, the recovery of components which cannot be reused and the giving of preference to recycling when environmentally viable, without prejudice to requirements regarding the safety of vehicles and environmental requirements such as air emissions and noise control.

2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the following targets are attained by economic operators:

By 31 December 2005 at the latest the European Parliament and the Council shall re-examine the targets referred to in paragraph (b) on the basis of a report of the Commission, accompanied by a proposal. In its report the Commission shall take into account the development of the material composition of vehicles and any other relevant environmental aspects related to vehicles.

Detailed rules necessary to control compliance of Member States with the targets set out in the first subparagraph shall be established. When proposing such rules, the Commission shall take into account all relevant factors, inter alia, the availability of data and the issue of exports and imports of end-of-life vehicles. Those detailed rules, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 11(3).

3. On the basis of a proposal from the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council shall establish targets for reuse and recovery and for reuse and recycling for the years beyond 2015.

4. In order to prepare an amendment to Directive 70/156/EEC, the Commission shall promote the preparation of European standards relating to the dismantlability, recoverability and recyclability of vehicles. Once the standards are agreed, but in any case no later than by the end of 2001, the European Parliament and the Council, on the basis of a proposal from the Commission, shall amend Directive 70/156/EEC so that vehicles type-approved in accordance with that Directive and put on the market after three years after the amendment of the Directive 70/156/EEC are re-usable and/or recyclable to a minimum of 85 % by weight per vehicle and are re-usable and/or recoverable to a minimum of 95 % by weight per vehicle.

5. In proposing the amendment to Directive 70/156/EEC relating to the ability to be dismantled, recoverability and recyclability of vehicles, the Commission shall take into account as appropriate the need to ensure that the reuse of components does not give rise to safety or environmental hazards.

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that producers, in concert with material and equipment manufacturers, use component and material coding standards, in particular to facilitate the identification of those components and materials which are suitable for reuse and recovery.

2. The standards referred to in paragraph 1 shall be established. When proposing such standards, the Commission shall take account of the work going on in this area in the relevant international forums and contribute to this work as appropriate. That measure, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 11(3).

3. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that producers provide dismantling information for each type of new vehicle put on the market within six months after the vehicle is put on the market. This information shall identify, as far as it is needed by treatment facilities in order to comply with the provisions of this Directive, the different vehicle components and materials, and the location of all hazardous substances in the vehicles, in particular with a view to the achievement of the objectives laid down in Article 7.

4. Without prejudice to commercial and industrial confidentiality, Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that manufacturers of components used in vehicles make available to authorised treatment facilities, as far as it is requested by these facilities, appropriate information concerning dismantling, storage and testing of components which can be reused.

1. At three-year intervals Member States shall send a report to the Commission on the implementation of this Directive. The report shall be drawn up on the basis of a questionnaire or outline drafted by the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 6 of Directive 91/692/EEC ( 9 ) with a view to establishing databases on end-of life vehicles and their treatment. The report shall contain relevant information on possible changes in the structure of motor vehicle dealing and of the collection, dismantling, shredding, recovery and recycling industries, leading to any distortion of competition between or within Member States. The questionnaire or outline shall be sent to the Member States six months before the start of the period covered by the report. The report shall be made to the Commission within nine months of the end of the three-year period covered by it.

Based on the above information, the Commission shall publish a report on the implementation of this Directive within nine months of receiving the reports from the Member States.

The formats relating to the database system shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 11(2).

2. Member States shall require in each case the relevant economic operators to publish information on:

The producer must make this information accessible to the prospective buyers of vehicles. It shall be included in promotional literature used in the marketing of the new vehicle.

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 21 April 2002. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

When Member States adopt these measures, these shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by Member States.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of domestic law, which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.

3. Provided that the objectives set out in this Directive are achieved, Member States may transpose the provisions set out in Articles 4(1), 5(1), 7(1), 8(1), 8(3) and 9(2) and specify the detailed rules of implementation of Article 5(4) by means of agreements between the competent authorities and the economic sectors concerned. Such agreements shall meet the following requirements

1. The Commission shall be assisted by the committee established by Article 18 of Directive 75/442/EEC.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.

3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a(1) to (4) and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

1. This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

3. Member States may apply Article 5(4) in advance of the dates set out in paragraph 2.

Minimum technical requirements for treatment in accordance with Article 6(1) and (3)

Materials and components	Scope and expiry date of the exemption	To be labelled or made identifiable in accordance with Article 4(2)(b)(iv)
Lead as an alloying element
1(a). Steel for machining purposes and batch hot dip galvanised steel components containing up to 0,35 % lead by weight
1(b). Continuously galvanised steel sheet containing up to 0,35 % lead by weight	Vehicles type-approved before 1 January 2016 and spare parts for these vehicles
2(a). Aluminium for machining purposes with a lead content up to 2 % by weight	As spare parts for vehicles put on the market before 1 July 2005
2(b). Aluminium with a lead content up to 1,5 % by weight	As spare parts for vehicles put on the market before 1 July 2008
2(c). Aluminium with a lead content up to 0,4 % by weight	(1)
3. Copper alloy containing up to 4 % lead by weight	(1)
4(a). Bearing shells and bushes	As spare parts for vehicles put on the market before 1 July 2008
4(b). Bearing shells and bushes in engines, transmissions and air conditioning compressors	As spare parts for vehicles put on the market before 1 July 2011
Lead and lead compounds in components
5. Batteries	(1)	X
6. Vibration dampers	Vehicles type-approved before 1 January 2016 and spare parts for these vehicles	X
7(a). Vulcanising agents and stabilisers for elastomers in brake hoses, fuel hoses, air ventilation hoses, elastomer/metal parts in the chassis applications, and engine mountings	As spare parts for vehicles put on the market before 1 July 2005
7(b). Vulcanising agents and stabilisers for elastomers in brake hoses, fuel hoses, air ventilation hoses, elastomer/metal parts in the chassis applications, and engine mountings containing up to 0,5 % lead by weight	As spare parts for vehicles put on the market before 1 July 2006
7(c). Bonding agents for elastomers in powertrain applications containing up to 0,5 % lead by weight	As spare parts for vehicles put on the market before 1 July 2009
8(a). Lead in solders to attach electrical and electronic components to electronic circuit boards and lead in finishes on terminations of components other than electrolyte aluminium capacitors, on component pins and on electronic circuit boards	Vehicles type-approved before 1 January 2016 and spare parts for these vehicles	X (3)
8(b). Lead in solders in electrical applications other than soldering on electronic circuit boards or on glass	Vehicles type-approved before 1 January 2011 and spare parts for these vehicles	X (3)
8(c). Lead in finishes on terminals of electrolyte aluminium capacitors	Vehicles type-approved before 1 January 2013 and spare parts for these vehicles	X (3)
8(d). Lead used in soldering on glass in mass airflow sensors	Vehicles type-approved before 1 January 2015 and spare parts of such vehicles	X (3)
8(e). Lead in high melting temperature type solders (i.e. lead-based alloys containing 85 % by weight or more lead)	(2)	X (3)
8(f)(a). Lead in compliant pin connector systems	Vehicles type-approved before 1 January 2017 and spare parts for these vehicles	X (3)
8(f)(b). Lead in compliant pin connector systems other than the mating area of vehicle harness connectors	(2)	X (3)
8(g). Lead in solders to complete a viable electrical connection between semiconductor die and carrier within integrated circuit flip chip packages	(2)	X (3)
8(h). Lead in solder to attach heat spreaders to the heat sink in power semiconductor assemblies with a chip size of at least 1 cm2 of projection area and a nominal current density of at least 1 A/mm2 of silicon chip area	Vehicles type-approved before 1 January 2016 and spare parts for these vehicles	X (3)
8(i). Lead in solders in electrical glazing applications on glass except for soldering in laminated glazing	Vehicles type-approved before 1 January 2016 and spare parts for these vehicles	X (3)
8(j). Lead in solders for soldering of laminated glazing	Vehicles type-approved before 1 January 2020 and spare parts for these vehicles	X (3)
9. Valve seats	As spare parts for engine types developed before 1 July 2003
10(a). Electrical and electronic components which contain lead in a glass or ceramic, in a glass or ceramic matrix compound, in a glass-ceramic material, or in a glass-ceramic matrix compound. This exemption does not cover the use of lead in: — glass in bulbs and glaze of spark plugs, — dielectric ceramic materials of components listed under 10(b), 10(c) and 10(d).		X (4) (for components other than piezo in engines)
10(b). Lead in PZT-based dielectric ceramic materials of capacitors being part of integrated circuits or discrete semiconductors
10(c). Lead in dielectric ceramic materials of capacitors with a rated voltage of less than 125 V AC or 250 V DC	Vehicles type-approved before 1 January 2016 and spare parts for these vehicles
10(d). Lead in the dielectric ceramic materials of capacitors compensating the temperature-related deviations of sensors in ultrasonic sonar systems	Vehicles type-approved before 1 January 2017 and spare parts for these vehicles
11. Pyrotechnic initiators	Vehicles type-approved before 1 July 2006 and spare parts for these vehicles
12. Lead-containing thermoelectric materials in automotive electrical applications to reduce CO2 emissions by recuperation of exhaust heat	Vehicles type-approved before 1 January 2019 and spare parts for these vehicles	X
Hexavalent chromium
13(a). Corrosion preventive coatings	As spare parts for vehicles put on the market before 1 July 2007
13(b). Corrosion preventive coatings related to bolt and nut assemblies for chassis applications	As spare parts for vehicles put on the market before 1 July 2008
14. As an anti-corrosion agent of the carbon steel cooling system in absorption refrigerators in motor caravans up to 0,75 weight -% in the cooling solution except where the use of other cooling technologies is practicable (i.e. available on the market for the application in motor caravans) and does not lead to negative environmental, health and/or consumer safety impacts		X
Mercury
15(a). Discharge lamps for headlight application	Vehicles type-approved before 1 July 2012 and spare parts for these vehicles	X
15(b). Fluorescent tubes used in instrument panel displays	Vehicles type-approved before 1 July 2012 and spare parts for these vehicles	X
Cadmium
16. Batteries for electrical vehicles	As spare parts for vehicles put on the market before 31 December 2008
(1) This exemption shall be reviewed in 2015. (2) This exemption shall be reviewed in 2019. (3) Dismantling if, in correlation with entry 10(a), an average threshold of 60 grams per vehicle is exceeded. For the application of this clause electronic devices not installed by the manufacturer on the production line shall not be taken into account. (4) Dismantling if, in correlation with entries 8(a) to 8(j), an average threshold of 60 grams per vehicle is exceeded. For the application of this clause electronic devices not installed by the manufacturer on the production line shall not be taken into account.

A maximum concentration value up to 0,1 % by weight and in homogeneous material, for lead, hexavalent chromium and mercury and up to 0,01 % by weight in homogeneous material for cadmium shall be tolerated.

The reuse of parts of vehicles which were already on the market at the date of expiry of an exemption shall be allowed without limitation since it is not covered by Article 4(2)(a).

Spare parts put on the market after 1 July 2003 which are used for vehicles put on the market before 1 July 2003 shall be exempted from the provisions of Article 4(2)(a) ( 10 ).

( 3 ) Opinion of the European Parliament of 11 February 1999 (OJ C 150, 28.5.1999, p. 420), Council Common Position of 29 July 1999 (OJ C 317, 4.11.1999, p. 19) and Decision of the European Parliament of 3 February 2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Council Decision of 20 July 2000 and Decision of the European Parliament of 7 September 2000.

( 4 ) OJ 196, 16.8.1967, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 98/98/EC (OJ L 355, 30.12.1998, p. 1 ).

( 5 ) OJ L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 98/91/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 11, 16.1.1999, p. 25).

( 6 ) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975, p. 39. Directive as last amended by Commission Decision 96/350/EC (OJ L 135, 6.6.1996, p. 32).

( 10 ) This clause shall not apply to wheel balance weights, carbon brushes for electric motors and brake linings.

		Official Journal
		No	page	date
M1	COMMISSION DECISION 2002/525/EC of 27 June 2002	L 170	81	29.6.2002
M2	COMMISSION DECISION 2005/63/EC of 24 January 2005	L 25	73	28.1.2005
M3	COMMISSION DECISION 2005/438/EC of 10 June 2005	L 152	19	15.6.2005
M4	COUNCIL DECISION 2005/673/EC of 20 September 2005	L 254	69	30.9.2005
►M5	DIRECTIVE 2008/33/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 March 2008	L 81	62	20.3.2008
M6	COMMISSION DECISION 2008/689/EC of 1 August 2008	L 225	10	23.8.2008
►M7	DIRECTIVE 2008/112/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL Text with EEA relevance of 16 December 2008	L 345	68	23.12.2008
M8	COMMISSION DECISION 2010/115/EU of 23 February 2010	L 48	12	25.2.2010
M9	COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2011/37/EU Text with EEA relevance of 30 March 2011	L 85	3	31.3.2011
M10	COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2013/28/EU Text with EEA relevance of 17 May 2013	L 135	14	22.5.2013
►M11	COMMISSION DIRECTIVE (EU) 2016/774 Text with EEA relevance of 18 May 2016	L 128	4	19.5.2016