Batteries and Accumulators regulations

Subsidiary Legislation 427.08 – Batteries and Accumulators Regulations as published by Legal Notice 311 of 2007, as amended by, L.N. 88 of 2009, L.N. 311 of 2011 and L.N. 191 of 2014 brings into effect Articles 4, 6, 21 of Directive 2006/66/EC.

The EU Battery Directive (2006/66/EC) contributes to the protection, preservation, and improvement of the quality of the environment by minimising the negative impact of batteries and accumulators. It also ensures the smooth functioning of the internal market by harmonising requirements as regards the placing on the market of batteries and accumulators. With some exceptions, it applies to all batteries and accumulators, no matter their chemical nature, size or design.

To achieve these objectives, the Directive prohibits the marketing of batteries containing hazardous substances. The Directive also sets out provisions on labelling of batteries and their removability from equipment. It also aims to improve the environmental performance of all operators involved in the life cycle of batteries and accumulators, e.g. producers, distributors and end-users.

All batteries, accumulators and battery packs shall be appropriately marked with the symbol shown below;

The capacity of all portable and automotive batteries and accumulators shall be indicated on them in a visible, legible and Indelible.

• Batteries, accumulators, and button cells containing more than 0.0005 % mercury, more than 0.002 % cadmium or more than 0.004 % lead, shall be marked with the chemical symbol for the metal concerned> Hg, Cd or Pb. The symbol indicating the heavy metal content shall be printed beneath the symbol shown above and shall cover an area of at least one-quarter the size of that symbol.
• The symbol shown above shall cover at least 3 % of the area of the largest side of the battery, accumulator or battery pack, up to a maximum size of 5 X 5 cm. In the case of cylindrical cells, the symbol shall cover at least 1.5 % of the surface area of the battery or accumulator and shall have a maximum size of 5 X 5 cm.
• Where the size of the battery, accumulator or battery pack is such that the symbol would be smaller than 0.5 X 0.5 cm, the battery, accumulator, or battery pack need not be marked but a symbol measuring at least 1 X 1 cm shall be printed on the packaging.

 The EU legislation on waste batteries is embodied in the Batteries Directive. The Environment and Resource Authority (ERA) is the responsible authority that regulates the obligations by producers, distributors and end-users with respect to the responsibilities for the waste management including collection schemes, treatment and the recycling of batteries and accumulators that they place on the market. More information can be found on ERA’s website: https://era.org.mt/topic/batteries-and-accumulators-and-waste-batteries-and-accumulators/

Legislation 

The Batteries Directive was adopted in 2006 and has been subject to a number of revisions. Last amendments were incorporated in 2013. The consolidated version of the Directive is presented below.

• Directive 2006/66/ECof the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 September 2006 on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators and repealing Directive 91/157/EEC. Consolidated version.
• Subsidiary Legislation 427.08: Batteries and Accumulators Regulations

Further information

• The Website of the European Environment Agencyalso contains information of the environmental impact and fate of batteries
• The Website of Eurostatprovides access to detailed information on batteries and accumulators produced.

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