1. The Revision of WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) was accomplished with 2012/19/EU in the year 2012. The implementation into German law was ineffect with the revision of ElektroG, from which the regulations are taken,originally belonging to the RoHS.

2. G.i.N. Gesellschaft für industrielle Netzwerke GmbH is registered with the responsible authority, the “stiftung elektro-altgeräte register” (stiftung EAR).

WEEE-Reg.-Nr. DE 20824942

The revision of RoHS (restriction of certain hazardous substances) was accomplished with directive 2011/65/EU of the year 2011. The implementation of RoHS into German law, formerly part of ElektroG, followed with Elektrostoffverordnung (ElektroStoffV) in May 2013 as an independent regulation.

Compared to the previous version, changes include expanded areas of application (“open scope” and generic category 11) and the linking of RoHS to the CE declaration according to the new mode based on the EU framework 768/2008 which will be gradually extended to all CE relevant regulations.

The new requirements of the CE mode, integrated in the RoHS revision, is implemented in our processes and products and we are in the position to prove this with our documentation.

G.i.N. Gesellschaft für industrielle Netzwerke GmbH (G.i.N.) respects the compliance of the RoHS substances limitation already in the product development phase. Additionally, we fulfil our duty of care along the supply chain per case via direct requests to our suppliers or via systematic research on websites of component manufacturers which also influences the rating of the supplier.
G.i.N. products are part of product category 9 – “Control and monitoring equipment” – and claim the respective temporary regulations and exceptions in some individual cases.

The REACH regulation EC 1907/2006 is concerned with chemical substances and preparations which are to be registered to the European Chemical Agency ECHA by companies manufacturing and importing these substances. Additionally, REACH regulates the obligations of documentation, testing and informing and it defines a gradual approach in which critical substances (SVHC – Substances of very high concern) are gradually limited and, if necessary, banned.

G.i.N. Gesellschaft für industrielle Netzwerke GmbH (G.i.N.) as a manufacturer of devices and device components – i.e. Articles in REACH terminology – is affected by the described obligations only in exceptional cases in customer relations:

1. Mandatory registration is only needed for substances which are released by the article as intended, i.e. according to the functions of the article. Articles of this description are not supplied by G.i.N.

2. Regarding the substances in the Articles: There is an expanded obligation to inform customers if alarming substances of the so-called candidate list (SVHC) are contained in a concentration of more than 0.1 mass fraction of the article. We are aware of the relevant important principle of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from Oct. 2015 and its meaning for the suppliers. A yearly amount of more than 1t requires a message to the ECHA as the responsible authority. We fulfil our duty of care along the supply chain per case via direct requests to our suppliers or via systematic research on websites of component manufacturers.

3. According to REACH regulations, extended safety data sheets are only needed for substances and preparations. The same is true for information regarding the registration of ingredients, if safety data sheets for the respective substances/preparations are not needed per REACH. These substances/preparations are not supplied by G.i.N.

The Dodd Frank Act is part of US law and, specifically section 1502, is concerned with the so called “conflict minerals” and their respective countries of origin. Here, especially because of the civil wars, the DR Congo and its neighbouring countries in Central Africa are rated as alarming. Companies which are listed on the US stock exchange are required, by the Dodd Frank Act, to not obtain the following materials from the respective countries and to enforce this throughout their supply chain.

Columbite-tantalite (coltan) or derivatives (e.g. tantalum)

Cassiterite or derivatives (e.g. tin)

Wolframite or derivatives (e.g. tungsten)

Gold or derivatives

This means that companies worldwide, which do not underlie US law, are indirectly affected via the supply chains. We, as G.i.N. Gesellschaft für industrielle Netzwerke GmbH (G.i.N.), are consistent with the humanitarian and ethical targets which are to be pursued by the present regulations.

Additionally, we support our customers after the principles of the “reasonable country of origin inquiry” and “in good faith” which are addressed in the Dodd Frank Act.

Gi.N. uses the mentioned materials not directly but in the form of supplied electrical and electronic parts, printed circuits and electromechanic components as follows:

Tantalum: In very small amounts in tantalum capacitors (electronic components, purchased parts)

Tin: In small amounts as alloying components for solder in our own production, otherwise for material (soldered joints) in readily equipped circuit boards of EMS

Tungsten: In very small amounts in individual electronic components purchased parts

Gold: In very small amounts as galvanic coating of connectors and pins for electromechanical components.

Since our products have high requirements regarding the technical properties, we use electronic components of notable and mostly large and internationally active manufacturers.

It is not within our power to demand information from these manufacturers of the exact source of their used materials.

However, G.i.N. does check, in the context of ensuring compliance with RoHS and REACH, if the respective manufacturers position themselves appropriately regarding “conflict minerals” and create official templates with details of metallurgic and smelting plants or, at least, deliver meaningful statements.
In these cases, e.g. tin is not procured of manufacturers described above, we send an inquiry to our suppliers.

On this basis, we have no reason to believe that our component and parts manufacturers do receive the respective materials from the DR Congo or its neighbouring countries.