What is RoHS? Do I need to comply with it? How do I do that?

RoHS compliance is a requirement for all electrical and electronic equipment, and components in the EU and a number of other countries.

2011/65/EU
What is RoHS?
RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. It is a European directive that restricts the use of certain hazardous materials in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).

What is its objective?
The goal of RoHS is to reduce environmental and health risks associated with various substances, particularly during the production, recycling, and disposal processes of electronic devices.

What products need to comply with RoHS?
RoHS applies to almost all electronic and electrical equipment, including household appliances, IT equipment, lighting, toys and medical devices with some specific exclusions. The restrictions therefore also apply to all materials or components that will be used in EEE products.

What does RoHS restrict?
RoHS limits the use of the following hazardous materials in electronic products:

• Lead (Pb)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺)
• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
• Four phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP)

What are the concentration limits?
The maximum allowable concentration of these substances in each material is:

• 0.1% (1,000 ppm) for all substances except cadmium.
• 0.01% (100 ppm) for cadmium.

Does it only apply to the EU?
The UK RoHS requirements mirror those of the EU. China and India have similar regulations.

How do I comply?
Key requirements include ensuring each of the materials in your EEE meet the requirements, create your technical documentation, create your EU declaration of conformity and affix a CE mark to your EEE product.

If I supply components or materials for EEE products, what are my obligations?
If your customers are selling their products into countries with RoHS regulations, they will need to ensure all of the materials they use comply. Therefore they will likely ask you for test certificates or declarations before they purchase from you. They could also choose to test your materials themselves. If you are placing your components directly onto the EU market or a market with RoHS requirements, and they are very obviously components for EEE (such as cables) then they need to comply with RoHS although they will not necessarily need a CE mark.

Need help with your RoHS compliance? Make contact and we will arrange a time to talk.

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