1. What is regulated by the Ordinance on Waste Management of Electrical and Electronic Products?
According to the principle of extended producer responsibility, all importers, distributors and manufacturers of e-equipment (electrical and electronic equipment) are obliged to ensure proper reporting on placed/sold products on the territory of FBiH and the treatment of equipment at the end of their life, unless they transfer this obligation to the company ZEOS eko-sistem d.o.o.
The Rulebook on the Management of Waste from Electrical and Electronic Products regulates:
- the manner and procedure of reporting the placing of electrical and electronic products on the market,
- the establishment of a system of acceptance, collection and treatment of waste from electrical and electronic products and the operation of that system.
2. I have no electrical and electronic waste, why should I pay the fee?
The fee is paid for electrical and electronic products that are placed/sold on the market of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time. The fee is used for the collection and disposal of e-waste currently on the market, education and investment in infrastructure for separate collection of e-waste.
3. What is Electrical and Electronic Equipment?
Electrical and electronic equipment are products whose proper operation depends on electric current or electromagnetic fields, as well as products intended for the production, transmission and measurement of flows and fields if they are classified in one of the classes or subclasses listed below, and are used at a voltage not exceeding 1000 V for alternating flow and 1500 V for direct current.
A detailed list of all devices covered by the Regulation can be found here.
4. Who are the Registrars of the Rules on the Management of Waste from Electrical and Electronic Products?
Obliged to use the e-waste management and disposal system are all producers, importers and distributors of electrical and electronic equipment, who place equipment on the market of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time. Distributors who place equipment on the market for the first time are obliged to participate in the e-waste management and disposal system. For other equipment they sell, they are obliged to provide proof from manufacturers and importers that they have included their electrical and electronic equipment in the system. Otherwise, they are responsible for including the equipment themselves in the system and paying a fee for it.*
* The ZEOS eco-system suggests to Distributors to request, from their suppliers of electrical and electronic equipment, a Certificate of Inclusion in the System, in the case where they are distributors of equipment, and not manufacturers and importers.
5. What is meant by "placing on the market for the first time"?
Placing on the market for the first time means the first sale of manufactured or imported equipment on the FBiH market to other users and/or if the equipment is manufactured or imported into FBiH, and the manufacturer or importer is also the end user of that equipment.
6. What are the obligations of the System Payer under the Rulebook on Waste Management of Electrical and Electronic Products?
The manufacturer, distributor and importer is obliged to send a report to the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism of BiH and the Environmental Protection Fund of FBiH on the quantity, weight and type of equipment placed on the market. The report is filled in electronically via the application on the website www.zeos.ba.
All manufacturers and importers are obliged to pay a general fee to the Environmental Protection Fund of FBiH. The fee is paid on a semi-annual basis upon the issuance of the Decision.
Producers and importers who have not transferred their obligations to the operator ZEOS eko-sistem d.o.o. are obliged, in addition to the general fee, to pay the fee for the management of waste equipment to the Environmental Protection Fund of FBiH.
All producers, importers and distributors, who have not paid the fee for placed products from the date of entry into force of the Rulebook, are obliged to prepare reports and pay retroactively to the Environmental Protection Fund of FBiH, for all years for which the fee has not been paid, except for the current year in which they transferred their obligation to the operator ZEOS eko-sistem d.o.o.
7. Why should I transfer my obligation to the operator if I pay both the general fee and the management fee to the FBiH Environmental Protection Fund, what is the difference?
All importers, distributors and manufacturers are obliged to pay a general fee, however, those who transfer their obligation to the operator ZEOS eko-sistem d.o.o. pay lower waste management fees, have a free disposal (treatment and recycling) service of their electrical and electronic waste, get access to use the electronic application for reporting on the placement of electrical and electronic equipment on the FBiH market, They receive all the necessary legal support and documentation and do not have any stress about fulfilling their obligation. There is also the possibility of cooperation and joint marketing activities for the purpose of raising awareness and actions to collect electrical and electronic waste. Clients receive all these benefits free of charge.
8. Who is the System Operator?
The System Operator is a legal entity to which producers, importers and distributors have transferred the obligation to manage and dispose of waste equipment, i.e. they have concluded a contract on the transfer of the obligation to manage waste equipment to ZEOS eko-sistem d.o.o. In addition to the disposal of electrical and electronic waste, the operator also reports on products placed on the FBiH market and pays a lower fee for such products.
The primary objective of the system operator is to meet the legal requirements prescribed by the Rulebook.
9. What are the penalties in case of non-compliance with the provisions of the Ordinance on the management of waste electrical and electronic products?
Penal provisions shall be applied in accordance with Articles 52 and 53 of the Criminal Code. Waste Management Act and other special regulations.
10. How will the implementation of the Ordinance on Waste Management of Electrical and Electronic Products be supervised?
Supervision of waste management activities and the fulfilment of the conditions from the permit in accordance with the provisions of the Waste Management Act and regulations adopted on the basis thereof will be carried out by environmental protection inspectors and market and tourism and hospitality inspectors, at the federal level by the federal inspector and at the cantonal level by the cantonal inspector.
