WEEE reporting categories for UK importers
Assess each model for WEEE scope, choose its reporting category, then classify its intended use. Report dual-use products as household equipment; selling to businesses alone does not establish non-household status. Keep the specification and reasons behind each decision. Factory evidence can be gathered by Cambridge China Bridge.
Record the scope decision before the category
Start with the government guidance: check the definition of electrical and electronic equipment, then exemptions and exclusions. Battery-powered and solar-powered products can still be in scope. For registration and producer duties, use our WEEE importer guide.
Create a model register recording its basic function, power source, intended use and scope conclusion. Ask the factory for the manual, specification and photographs. If claiming an exemption or exclusion, record the exact guidance passage and the product facts supporting it. Keep unresolved models visibly pending.
Support the reporting category with product facts
Use the government's current reporting-category list and product decisions. Choose the most appropriate category for each in-scope model. Category names containing 'household' do not prevent non-household products being allocated there: category and household status are separate decisions.
Record the category name, the relevant guidance entry and why the model fits. Compare its function and construction with the official examples rather than copying a supplier's description. Save the guidance date and a copy of the evidence reviewed. For wider product documentation, see our electrical import rules guide.
Classify intended use, not the customer's name
Assess each product's design, specification and function. Dual-use equipment is reported as household. Distribution channels, contracts and guarantees can support a non-household decision, but cannot establish it alone. Do not split the same product's reporting between household and non-household according to who bought it.
For a proposed non-household classification, gather evidence of construction, performance, dimensions, weight and power supply. Ask what makes the model specifically suited to commercial use. Record normal intended use; an exceptional household purchase of equipment designed for commercial use does not automatically change its classification.
Give the reporting team a usable weight record
For products containing batteries, report the equipment weight minus the batteries. Include non-electrical parts needed for the product to operate as described. Avoid treating the packed shipping weight as the equipment weight.
Ask the factory for an unpacked product weight, battery weight and an itemised description of supplied parts. Check these against a sample and record the weighing method. Keep the model, category, household status and reporting weight together, with supporting documents in your importer compliance file.
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Resolve uncertainty and control changes
Government product decisions are interpretative advice, not legally binding rulings, and may change. The guidance directs producers needing help with categorisation to their compliance scheme or regulator. Send the exact specification, photographs, intended use and your proposed decision rather than just a product name.
Assign someone to approve the register before reporting. Revisit affected models when the factory changes their function, power supply, construction or supplied parts. Cambridge China Bridge's staff in China can gather factory specifications and check samples so the importer has product evidence to assess.
Frequently asked questions
Are electrical products sold only to businesses non-household?
Not automatically. Sales channels support the decision, but the product must be designed specifically for non-household use. Dual-use products are reported as household.
Can I split the same model between household and business reporting?
No. The guidance prohibits splitting the same product between household and non-household reporting. Assess its design and intended use.
What evidence should I keep for a WEEE category?
Keep the exact model specification, manual, photographs, relevant government guidance entry and your reasons. Record the category separately from household status and weight.
Who can help if my WEEE category is unclear?
Contact your compliance scheme or environmental regulator with the specification and proposed classification. Keep the response with the model record.