Resources

The RoHS Directive (2002/95/EC)

What is RoHS ?

RoHS ("Restriction of use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment") is an EU Directive that restricts the use of 6 hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types of electronic & electrical equipment. It is one of a series of EU environmental Directives and is closely linked with the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive.

Which substances are restricted ?

Electrical and electronic equipment must not contain more than the permitted concentrations of the following substances :

• Lead (Pb)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI))
• Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB) and Polybrominated
• Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE) (flame retardants used in some plastics)

What are the maximum concentrations ?

The maximum concentrations are 0.1% by weight of the homogenous material for all substances, with the exception of Cadmium where the limit is 0.01%.

N.B. These limits do not apply to the weight of the finished product, sub-assembly, or even a component. The EU has stated that the definition of a homogenous material is a single substance that could (theoretically) be mechanically separated from other substances (e.g. tinning on a component lead, sheath on a cable etc). A component would therefore typically contain a number of different homogenous materials.

N.B. Batteries are not included within the scope of RoHS, therefore a NiCd battery is permitted in finished goods even though the use of Cadmium is restricted.

What types of products are affected ?

The RoHS Directive takes its scope from the associated WEEE (Waste Electronic & Electrical Equipment) Directive. It applies to 8 of the categories specified within the WEEE Directive :

• Large household appliances
• Small household appliances
• IT and telecommunications equipment
• Consumer equipment
• Lighting equipment
• Electronic and electrical tools
• Toys, leisure and sports equipment
• Automatic dispensers

RoHS legally only applies to finished goods in the above categories. It does not apply to fixed industrial plant and tools. Similarly it does not apply to the components and sub-assemblies which are used to build the finished product, or to the repair and maintenance of existing products.

When does it take effect ?

Since the 1st July 2006 any new products "put onto the market" in Europe must be compliant i.e. products that are :

• imported into EU member states, or
• manufactured in EU member states and available for sale

RoHS does not apply to any products that are already "on the market" (already in the supply chain) in the EU prior to this date; they can continue to be sold.

Where does RoHS apply ?

Legally RoHS only affects the European Union, however it is becoming a defacto world standard because of the size of the European market. Similar legislation is currently being developed in a number of other countries. RoHS is a "single market" Directive, which means that it should be implemented uniformly throughout the EU.

How can I identify compliant components - is there a RoHS compliance mark ?

Unless they are marked in some way it is usually impossible to visually distinguish between compliant and non-compliant components. Unfortunately the Directive doesn't specify a means of indicating RoHS compliance, however a number of manufacturers have introduced their own "RoHS symbol".

 

CATEGORIES OF EQUIPMENT

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 oven
• 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

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

IT and telecommunications equipment

• Centralised 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 and Notepad computers
• Printers
• Copying equipment
• Electrical and electronic typewriters
• Pocket and desk calculators and 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 and other products or equipment of transmitting sound, images or other information by telecommunications

Consumer equipment

• Radio sets
• Television sets
• Videocameras
• Video recorders
• Hi-fi recorders
• Audio amplifiers
• Musical instruments
• And 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

Lighting equipment (including household luminaires and light bulbs)

• Luminaires for fluorescent lamps
• 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 with the exception of filament bulbs

Electronic and electrical 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

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

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