RoHS Hub

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The legislation restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in specific electronic equipment categories. All businesses involved in the electronic value chain of these products have the responsibility to ensure that their products comply with the RoHS directive and regulations.  

Since the EU initiated the RoHS directive other countries have joined in and placed similar regulations on the electronic industry.  

In addition to RoHS, the EU has also passed the WEEE Directive which sets guidelines and mandates around e-waste disposal and recycling.

What is EU RoHS?

RoHS is an EU directive that originated in 2002 and went into effect in July 2006. The directive restricts the use of hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products in the EU.  

The original RoHS, also known as Directive 2002/95/EC, restricts the use of six hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products.  

Following that directive in 2011 RoHS 2 also known as RoHS-Recast or Directive 2011/65/EU added the CE-marking directive as well as additional compliance recordkeeping requirements. It also added Categories 8 and 9 (medical devices as well as, monitoring, and control instruments) to the impacted product categories.

Finally, Directive 2015/863 which is often referred to as RoHS 3 went into effect on July 22, 2019. This directive is referred to as RoHS 3 by many people but still falls under RoHS 2 since it didn’t change any legislation and it only added four additional restricted substances for all electrical and electronic equipment.  

What are the RoHS Hazardous Restricted Materials?

What are the RoHS Hazardous Restricted Materials?

The volume of electronic waste has been growing in dump sites and as a result, the number of harmful substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium released into the soil has increased. To address this issue, the EU has restricted the use of certain harmful materials in electrical and electronic equipment through the RoHS Directive.

The RoHS Directive currently restricts the use of ten substances in all products with any electrical or electronic components. These include lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP).

Access the List and the Maximum Levels.

What are the RoHS-Impacted Product Categories & Exemptions?

The RoHS restrictions of hazardous substances apply to all internal and external wires, cables, and connectors associated with a certain category of products.  

These include a variety of products such as computers, electronic toys, monitors, mobile phones, tablets, wireless speakers, Bluetooth earphones, medical instruments, LEDs, smartwatches, kitchen appliances, and more.  

Certain product categories such as military equipment used for defense or national security, satellites, telescopes, and spacecraft are exempt from RoHS compliance.  

RoHS-Impacted Product Categories & Exemptions 

Difference Between RoHS & REACH

The RoHS and REACH regulations, established by the EU, are vital for curbing hazardous substances in electronics and chemicals. RoHS restricts hazardous substances in electrical products, while REACH covers all chemicals. Noncompliance leads to penalties and recalls. Adherence requires supply chain transparency, testing, and sustainability commitment.

Read more about the Differences Between RoHS & REACH

Changes Coming to RoHS

The EU Restriction on Hazardous Substances RoHS Directive currently restricts the use of ten substances: lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). Learn about possible changes coming to RoHS

Read more about changes coming to RoHS