Environmental concern
Toshiba actively promotes environmental activities towards the construction of a sustainable society.
Continual efforts are made to lessen the environmental impact of all business processes, including development, production, sales, service and disposal. The ultimate aims are the prevention of  global warming, effective use of resources and responsible use and management of chemicals.

In addition to adherence to applicable regulations, Toshiba established voluntary action plans and aims at environmental targets that go beyond those as set by standards or regulations.

With a growing number of European directives and regulations on environmental issues, it is felt appropriate to provide some basic information.

Environmental requirements
Several measures aimed at the protection of the environment are covered by European directives and regulations.
Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Toshiba) is committed to comply with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

The following is a brief description of the most significant of such directives and an explanation of Toshiba’s actions.

Directive on electric and electronic waste (2002/96/EC)
The European WEEE directive covers the collection and treatment of electronic waste. It became effective as of August 13, 2005. National regulations have been, or are now being, set up. So is, in several countries, the infrastructure to handle products that have reached "end of life".

Information for users
Where the national requirements on WEEE are clear, Toshiba has made arrangements to handle products that need to be disposed of. In those countries where such rules or infrastructure have not yet been established, the developments are closely followed. Toshiba is committed to ensure appropriate action is taken as and when feasible.

Because the arrangements for the handling of waste products may substantially differ in the various EU member states, parties affected are requested to contact the local representative office for the situation in the specific country.
Information for treatment facilities
Information, facilitating the environmentally sound treatment of WEEE, will made available to treatment facilities for all current products. info@tmse.nl can be contacted to obtain relevant information.

Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (2002/95/EC)
The RoHS directive puts restrictions on the use of certain hazardous substances. This directive has become effective on July 1, 2006.
Information on RoHS
Medical Devices are currently exempted from the RoHS directive. However, in line with Toshiba' s overall environmental policy, much effort is put in ensuring that substances banned for electronic products are not commonly used in medical devices either. Toshiba continually monitors the applicability of the RoHS to any of its products and will ensure full compliance where appropriate.

Directive on spent batteries (2006/66/EC)
This directive puts restrictions on material to be used in batteries, requires specific labeling of batteries. In addition, a fee must be paid over all batteries placed on the market.  It has become effective on September 26, 2008.

Toshiba complies with the requirements of this directive by using only permitted batteries, providing disposal information and by duly registering batteries placed on the market.

The REACH regulations (1907/2006)
These regulations require all (chemical) substances to be registered and forbid the use of certain substances. Furthermore, restrictions are put on the use of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). A (preliminary) list of 15 of such substances was published in October 2008. Recipients of articles are to be advised on how to safely handle items containing an SVHC in a concentration of more that 0.1%wt. REACH came into force on July 1st, 2007
Toshiba have verified that chemicals contained in articles manufactured by Toshiba were duly and timely pre-registered by the suppliers of such chemicals.
Toshiba expressly commits to also ensure that the subsequent registration phases as regulated by REACH and as in accordance with the volume of substances shipped to the EU are adhered to.

Only a very limited number of articles contain an SVHC in a concentration exceeding the prescribed levels. Information on such products can be accessed through this document: Safety information for DEHP (Multilingual)

General
Toshiba's continued attention and investigation concerning compliance with applicable regulations aims to ensure an undisrupted supply of products and/or service parts to the EU market.
For more environmental information, please refer to Toshiba's Corporate Social and Environmental Activities website or contact the Regulatory Affairs section of Toshiba Medical Systems Europe at info@TMSE.nl

More information about the directives can be found at:
WEEE:  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee/index_en.htm
RoHS:  http://www.rohs.eu/english/index.html
Batteries:  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/batteries/index.htm
REACH:  www.echa.europa.eu