The RoHS Directive

What is the background of the RoHS directive?

As the European Union (EU) became aware of the increasing amounts of hazardous waste being dumped into European landfill sites, evidence pointed overwhelmingly in the direction of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) as the major contributor. The increase of these devices in the market place coupled with their decreasing life span was clearly having a substantial environmental impact that needed to be addressed. After a decade of research and awareness campaigns throughout the 90's, a number of EU environmental action plans were put in place beginning in 2000 and culminated in the drafting of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The WEEE directive, which took effect on August 13, 2005, made manufactures responsible for the end of life collection of EEE they manufacture. Its companion legislation, the Restrictions of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS), which takes effect on July 1, 2006, requires EEE manufactures to eliminate six hazardous substances from their products altogether.

What is RoHS?

The Restrictions of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (2002/95/EC), commonly referred to as RoHS or "Lead Free" legislation was drafted by the European Parliament and applies to certain electrical and electronic equipment sold in the member states of the EU. It virtually eliminates the use of six hazardous substances from the manufacturing process.

What is the purpose of the RoHS directive?

The RoHS directive is intended to protect the environment from hazardous waste by restricting their use in the high volume production of consumer electronics. Due to the enormous amount of electronic waste in landfills, a high concentration of hazardous chemicals leach into groundwater supplies creating a potential hazard to wildlife, agriculture and human habitation. RoHS, WEEE and other such legislation are intended to lessen this environmental impact by making manufacturers more environmentally responsible.

Who does the RoHS directive apply to?

The directives primary impact is to the 'producer' which means any person who manufactures and sells electrical and electronic equipment under his own brand; resells under his own brand equipment produced by other suppliers; or who imports or exports electrical and electronic equipment on a professional basis into a Member State.

It is important however, for anyone along the supply chain or who manufactures, sells or distributes electrical or electronic equipment world wide to be familiar with and prepared to comply with this legislation. Similar legislation is underway throughout the world.

Refer to the legal responsibilities page for more on this topic

What hazardous substances does RoHS restrict?

• lead (Pb) < 0.1%
• mercury (Hg) < 0.1%
• cadmium (Cd) < 0.01%
• hexavalent chromium (CrVI) < 0.1%
• PBBs - polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) < 0.1%
• PBDEs - polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) < 0.1%

The concentration values are by weight in "homogeneous materials" (of uniform composition throughout which cannot be manually broken down into smaller parts).

What electrical and electronic equipment does RoHS apply to?

The eight product categories listed below are those which must comply with the RoHS Directive. The bulleted items below each category are examples of specific products which must comply as listed in Annex 1B of the WEEE directive and are not meant to be exhaustive. The WEEE directive preceded the RoHS directive and references all the effected RoHS categories

1. Large household appliances

• Large cooling appliances
• Refrigerators
• Freezers
• Other large appliances used for refrigeration, conservation and storage of food
• Washing machines
• Clothes dryers
• Dish washing machines
• Cooking
• Electric stoves
• Electric hot plates
• Microwaves
• Other large appliances used for cooking and other processing of food
• Electric heating appliances
• Electric radiators
• Other large appliances for heating rooms, beds, seating furniture
• Electric fans
• Air conditioner appliances
• Other fanning, exhaust ventilation and conditioning equipment

2. Small household appliances

• Vacuum cleaners
• Carpet sweepers
• Other appliances for cleaning
• Appliances used for sewing, knitting, weaving and other processing for textiles
• Irons and other appliances for ironing, mangling and other care of clothing
• Toasters
• Fryers
• Grinders, coffee machines and equipment for opening or sealing containers or packages
• Electric knives
• Appliances for hair-cutting, hair drying, tooth brushing, shaving, massage and other body care appliances
• Clocks, watches and equipment for the purpose of measuring, indicating or registering time
• Scales

3. IT and telecommunications equipment

• Centralized data processing:
• Mainframes
• Minicomputers
• Printer units
• Personal computing:
• Personal computers (CPU, mouse, screen and keyboard included)
• Laptop computers (CPU, mouse, screen and keyboard included)
• Notebook computers
• Notepad computers
• Printers
• Copying equipment
• Electrical and electronic typewriters
• Pocket and desk calculators
• Other products and equipment for the collection, storage, processing, presentation or communication of information by electronic means
• User terminals and systems
• Facsimile
• Telex
• Telephones
• Pay telephones
• Cordless telephones
• Cellular telephones
• Answering systems
• Other products or equipment of transmitting sound, images or other information by telecommunications

4. Consumer equipment

• Radio sets
• Television sets
• Video cameras
• Video recorders
• Hi-fi recorders
• Audio amplifiers
• Musical instruments
• Other products or equipment for the purpose of recording or reproducing sound or images, including signals or other technologies for the distribution of sound and image than by telecommunications

5. Lighting equipment

• Luminaires for fluorescent lamps including luminaires in households
• Straight fluorescent lamps
• Compact fluorescent lamps
• High intensity discharge lamps, including pressure sodium lamps and metal halide lamps
• Low pressure sodium lamps
• Other lighting or equipment for the purpose of spreading or controlling light including filament bulbs

6. Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools)

• Drills
• Saws
• Sewing machines
• Equipment for turning, milling, sanding, grinding, sawing, cutting, shearing, drilling, making holes, punching,
• folding, bending or similar processing of wood, metal and other materials
• Tools for riveting, nailing or screwing or removing rivets, nails, screws or similar uses
• Tools for welding, soldering or similar use
• Equipment for spraying, spreading, dispersing or other treatment of liquid or gaseous substances by other means
• Tools for mowing or other gardening activities

7. Toys, leisure and sports equipment

• Electric trains or car racing sets
• Hand-held video game consoles
• Video games
• Computers for biking, diving, running, rowing, etc.
• Sports equipment with electric or electronic components
• Coin slot machines

8. Automatic dispensers

• Automatic dispensers for hot drinks
• Automatic dispensers for hot or cold bottles or cans
• Automatic dispensers for solid products
• Automatic dispensers for money
• All appliances which deliver automatically all kind of products

Please note that the RoHS directive does not come into force until July 1, 2006 and is subject to revision at any time up to and after that date. To get up-to-date information direct from the source, go to the WEEE/RoHS section of the Europa web site:

www.europa.eu.int

What equipment is exempt from RoHS?

The following are currently listed as RoHS exempt.

• Medical Devices, Monitoring & Control Instruments
• Exemptions listed in Annex (both existing and in any ammendments to follow)
• Large-scale stationary industrial tools
• Spare parts used for the repair, capacity expansion or upgrade of EEE put on the market before 1 July 2006
• Re-use of EEE placed on the market before July 1, 2006

The following are under consideration for RoHS exemption.

• Deca-BDE in polymeric applications
• Lead in lead-bronze bearing shells and bushes
• Lead in tin whisker resistant coatings for fine pitch applications
• Hexavalent chromium passivation coatings

Please note this list of exemptions is subject to revision at any time and is in no way intended to be comprehensive.

How do I show that my products are RoHS compliant?

In order to be compliant, a producer (as defined in the directive) must take measures to ensure that their products are within the specifications of the RoHS directive. The enforcing authorities may request technical data or other documentation which demonstrates compliance. These records should be maintained for a minimum of four years after the electrical or electronic equipment is placed on the market.

  Download RoHS Directive

  Download RoHS Directive Amendment   (additional EEE exemptions)

  Download WEEE/RoHS FAQ