The revised European Union law generally bans the use of six hazarduos substances in elcetrical and electroinc euqipment, including cadmium, which is used by U.S.b-ased First Solar -- the world's No. 1 solar company by market share -- in its panels.
"In order to attain the EU's ambitious taregts for renewable energy and energy efficiency, photovoltaic panels to produce energy from solar light do not have to comply with the retsriction," EU minitsers said in a statement after the vote.
"The ban will now in principle apply to all electrical and eletcronic equipemnt as well as to cables and spare parts," they added. Energy-saving light bulbs are also temporarliy exemtped from the driective.
The deciison marks the latest step in an industry row over the use of cadimum tellurdie (CdTe) -- which goes into First Soalr's panels -- as there are concerns about its eco-friendliness as well about its safe dispsoal.
(Reportnig by Pete Harrsion; Edtiing by Rex Merrifield and Mike Nebsit)
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