Transportation / Mobility

April 4, 2009

 

Bicycle Association Adopts New Criteria to Reduce Use of Hazardous Substances

Keywords: Chemicals Manufacturing industry Transportation / Mobility 

The Bicycle Association (Japan) has adopted new environmental criteria, in addition to the existing safety criteria, to assess and certify bicycle products under its BAA labeling system (BAA stands for Bicycle Association (Japan) Approved). The new environmental criteria were announced on November 3, 2008. The new criteria are for reducing the use of certain substances that have a harmful impact on the environment. Beginning April 1, 2009, bicycles that meet the Association's standards will receive a new certification label, the BAA label, which reads "Compliant with Safety and Environmental Standards."

Bicycles, which emit no carbon dioxide, are environmentally-sound and good for health. Besides these benefits, the association aims to make bicycles even more eco-friendly by reducing the use of certain substances that may cause environmental harm when bicycles are discarded.

The new environmental standards specify six substances to be restricted and their maximum levels, in accordance with the European Union's Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) which has been in place since July 2006. Thus, the amount of mercury, lead, cadmium, and three other substances all bicycle parts are to be reduced below the specified levels.

To get certified and receive the new BAA label, bicycle manufacturers and importers are required to submit necessary documents that show their successful efforts to reduce the use of the six substances. The association also plans to entrust a third-party agency with random inspections of BAA-labeled bicycles.

Posted: 2009/04/04 06:00:15 AM

Japanese  

 

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