RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) is a list of restricted substances that cannot be found within electrical and electronic products. While the principal responsibility lies with the manufacturers, importers, and distributors also have obligations that must be met such as providing information and documentation. ( Download Free RoHS 3 MS Word Template)
Note : Important distinction for anybody just learning about these regulations RoHS and Reach are not the same even though in most conversations that go hand-in-hand.
While The RoHS initiative is worldwide, there are slight nuances between each country, therefore it is not a perfect standardize system when one calls out RoHS. However, there tends to be sizable overlaps in order to help protect customer or end users from harmful substances.
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The following simplified information is specifically addressing the European Union RoHS directives.
Basically RoHS builds upon its original foundation.
What is the overall summary of each level in the RoHS pyramid?
The original RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC restricted six hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products such as:
- Cadmium (Cd): < 100 ppm
- Lead (Pb): < 1000 ppm
- Mercury (Hg): < 1000 ppm
- Hexavalent Chromium: (Cr VI) < 1000 ppm
- Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB): < 1000 ppm
- Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE): < 1000 ppm
Rohs 2 (aka RoHS Recast) Directive 2011/65/EU addresses admin issues such as:
- CE-marking directive
- Added Categories 8 and 9 (See below for the EEE Categories List)
- Additional compliance recordkeeping requirements
Rohs 2 Amendment (aka RoHS 3) Directive 2015/863/ additional restricted four hazardous materials added to the original RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC such as:
- Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP): < 1000 ppm
- Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP): < 1000 ppm
- Dibutyl phthalate (DBP): < 1000 ppm
- Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP): < 1000 ppm
Extra Information’s
Electric or Electronic Equipment (EEE) 11 categories are:
- Large household appliances (Category 1)
- Small household appliances (Category 2)
- IT and Telecommunications equipment (Category 3)
- Consumer equipment (Category 4)
- Lighting equipment (Category 5)
- Electrical and electronic tools (Category 6)
- Toys, leisure and sports equipment (Category 7)
- Medical devices (Category 8)
- Monitoring and control instruments (Category 9)
- Automatic dispensers (Category 10)
- Other EEE not covered by any of the categories above AKA catch-all (Category 11)
(source for list https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20211101)