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What is RoHS?
RoHS as in Restriction of Hazardous Substances. It comes from European directive 2002/95/CE, adopted by all the EU member states, to restrict the use of 6 hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
When is RoHS applicable?
It was adopted in Europe on 27 January 2003 and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 13 February 2003. As of 1 July 2006, the member States must ensure that new electrical and electronic devices put on the market do not contain the forbidden substances.
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The hazardous substances under the scope of RoHS are lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), hexavalent chromium (CrVI), polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl (PBDE). The plan is to set levels expressed as percentage by weight of homogeneous material. The ceiling for all the substances is 0.1% except for cadmium, limited to 0.01%. Homogeneous material is the smallest unit the product can be broken down into.
Companies manufacturing and selling Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) under their own brand, reselling under their own brand EEE made by other manufacturers, importing or exporting EEE on a professional basis must comply with the RoHS directive. RoHS applies to low voltage electrical and electronic devices, i.e. less than 1000V a.c. or less than 1500V d.c., listed in appendix 1A to directive 2002/96/CE on WEEE. In addition, starting 1 July 2006, the spare parts for those electrical and electronic devices must also be compliant.
What is currently outside the scope of RoHS?
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medium voltage electrical and electronic devices |
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spare parts to repair electrical and electronic devices made before 1 July 2006 |
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arms, munitions and war material |
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medical devices, monitoring and control instruments |
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large-scale stationary industrial tools |
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mercury in certain lamps;
lead in the glass of cathode ray tubes and fluorescent tubes, in certain steels, aluminum and copper alloys;
lead in servers and storage systems (until 2010);
lead in certain high melting temperature type solders;
lead in solders for network infrastructure equipment;
lead in certain electronic ceramic parts;
cadmium plating less than 0.01% by weight;
hexavalent chromium in cooling systems |
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To determine whether the devices you sell are affected by the RoHS directive, follow these logical steps.
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Does my equipment run
on electrical current or electromagnetic
fields? |
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Is my equipment designed for use
at a voltage less than 1000V a.c. or 1500V
d.c.? |
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Does my equipment fall into
one of the following categories? |
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1.
Large household appliances
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2.
Small household appliances |
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3. IT and telecommunications equipment
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4. Consumer equipment |
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5. Lighting equipment |
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6. Electrical and electronic tools
(with the exception of
large-scale stationary industrial tools) |
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7. Toys, leisure and sports equipment |
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10. Automatic dispensers | |
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Has my equipment been expressly
exempted from the directive's
scope? |
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- my equipment is part of another piece of equipment that is not in the directive's
scope
- my equipment is a large-scale stationary industrial tool
- my equipment is connected with the protection of the essential interests of the security of member States
and intended for specifically military purposes. Arms, munitions and war material designed for
specifically military purposes.
- my equipment is an implanted and infected medical device.
- my equipment is a spare part intended for
repair/re-use of electrical and electronic equipment put on the market before 1 July 2006.2006 |
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| My equipment is in
the scope of the
directive |
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