RoHS Directive

The European RoHS directive (2002/95/EC) aims to limit the use of six hazardous substances. Is from 1 July 2006 that any new product on the market in the European Union, whether imported or manufactured in the EU must comply with the directive.

RoHS means Restriction of The Use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

The impacted substances are:

  • Lead ;
  • Mercury ;
  • Cadmium ;
  • Hexavalent chromium ;
  • Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) ;
  • polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).

Maximum concentrations of these substances are 0.1% by weight of homogeneous material, except for cadmium where the limit is 0.01%.

In July 2010 the environment committee European Parliament has recommended extending the scope of the directive by requesting a new assessment about health and environment for several new substances:

  • Halogenated flame retardants ;
  • PVC.

The directive aims for marketed products in all European territories. The directive applies to eight categories of products specified in the European WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment):

  • Big electrical goods ;
  • Small electrical goods ;
  • Computing and telecommunications equipment ;
  • Consumer equipment ;
  • Lighting equipment ;
  • Electrical and electronic tools ;
  • Toys, leisure and sports ;
  • Automatic teller machines ;
  • Medical devices - except all implanted and infected products (scheduled later) ;
  • Surveillance and control instruments (scheduled later) ;

Batteries are not affected by the directive.

The directive does not make provision for a symbol identifying the devices comply with the directive. From 1 July 2006, all new products placed on the market are expected to comply. The competent authorities of each State shall develop procedures for monitoring and control. However, some manufacturers have introduced their own identification system. The system now relies on declarations of compliance of manufacturers that rely on self-declarations of compliance of its suppliers who in turn based on statements of compliance of manufacturers of raw materials. Without a perfect traceability, guarantees of compliance are at risk.