Chairman: ”Replace the electronics tax with EU regulation”

This is an argumentative text from Applia's chairman Kent Oderud with the aim of influencing.

The Swedish electronics tax was introduced in 2017 with the aim of reducing exposure to flame retardants found in electronics and containing chlorine, bromine and/or phosphorus compounds. Both the Swedish Chemicals Agency and the Swedish Tax Agency have concluded in their evaluations of the tax that it has not achieved that effect. The electronics industry is essentially global and Sweden is far too small a market to custom-manufacture ”Swedish” electronic components or ”Swedish” products containing electronics such as TVs, telephones, game consoles, computers, white goods or vacuum cleaners.

A Swedish special taxation is therefore not the solution – Swedish consumers have to pay for ”nothing”. The Swedish Tax Agency has so far collected just over SEK 10 billion (including VAT) which has made all these products more expensive since the introduction of the electronics tax in July 2017.

Substitutes for today's flame retardants must be developed

The industry advocates replacing the substances in question as soon as acceptable substitutes are available. However, much costly research remains to be done to achieve the goal of developing flame retardants that are neutral to the environment. This research will not be accelerated by the Swedish special taxation – only an agreement within the EU on a ban date for these flame retardants would have an effect in the form of more intensive research. Then a market of 512 million people throughout the EU is at stake for the companies – not just Sweden's 10 million.

Is it possible to implement this? Undoubtedly yes! The EU already has strict regulations on product safety and content in products. In particular, chemical content is strictly regulated via the REACH Regulation, the RoHS Directive and the POPs Regulation. Here, Swedish politicians must work harder to get the requirement for additions to these regulations and directives through.

Can they do this? Yes, without a doubt. The only question is whether they want to. The tax revenue from the electronics tax in Sweden, which ultimately comes from Sweden's consumers, is becoming far too important for the treasury. But there are good examples of Sweden being able to successfully bring the rest of Europe along on such a journey – the committed and extensive work to ban the use of PFAS that Sweden has been behind is a good example:

PFAS to be banned throughout the EU – Sweden behind the new bill

PFAS* are found in everything from mobile phones and wind turbines to make-up and raincoats. The European Chemicals Agency is now proposing to ban all use of products containing PFAS throughout the EU/EEA. Sweden is one of the countries that has deservedly pushed the issue the hardest. Behind the proposal lies solid work from Sweden and the Swedish Chemicals Agency in collaboration with corresponding experts and committed politicians from the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and the EEA country Norway.

The proposal will be presented to member states for decision in 2025. Under the proposal, companies will be given between one and twelve years to phase out PFAS in their products, depending on the available alternatives. For example, food packaging could be given a shorter period, while medical equipment such as pacemakers and other implants will be given twelve years.

Swedish commitment called for for flame retardants

When will we see the same commitment from Swedish politicians and government experts to engage in decision-making bodies within the EU to get restrictions on flame retardant chlorine, bromine and phosphorus substances in electronics? The successful regulation of the use of PFAS can serve as a model for how 'the grindstone should be pulled'! And in this way accelerate the research into better substitutes for flame retardants.

It is now high time to acknowledge that the Swedish special taxation of refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, TVs, mobile phones, computers and other electronics can now be dismissed as an ineffective attempt at an environmental tax and abolished. Instead, show the same level of commitment and commitment to the flame protection of electronics as Sweden has shown regarding the PFAS ban. The EU Presidency obliges!

//Kent Oderud, Chairman APPLiA – Home Appliances Sweden

*Read more about PFAS here:

Perfluorinated substances, PFAS, are a group of synthetic chemicals that do not break down in nature and can lead to health problems. There are more than 10,000 PFAS substances and new variants can be easily produced. Some are already restricted and by the end of the year 2022/23 new EU limits were introduced for the maximum levels of certain PFAS substances allowed in drinking water and food.

Electronics tax