REGULATIONS – RoHS Directive
Table of contents
1. Introduction
RoHS directive (2002/95/EC) aims to limit the use of six hazardous substances. Since 8th June 2011 this directive have been recast in directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. 2011/65/EU Directive came into force July 21st, 2011 and must be transposed by member states before January 2nd, 2013, when Directive 2002/95/EC will be officially repealed.
This Directive is applicable to all new products place on the European Union market, whether imported or manufactured in the EU.
2. RoHS substances
The article 4 of Directive 2002/95/EC define the substances involved, and the decision of the Committee on August 18, 2005 specifies the maximum allowable concentrations by weight of homogeneous material:
| Hazardous substances | Maximum concentration |
|---|---|
| Lead | 0,1% |
| Mercury | 0,1% |
| Cadmium | 0,01% |
| Chromium VI | 0,1% |
| Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) | 0,1% |
| Polybrominated diphenyls ethers (PBDE) | 0,1% |
3. Concerned equipments
Directive 2002/95/EC applied to eight categories of products specified in the European WEEE directive:
- Category 1: Large household appliances (LHA)
- Category 2: Small household appliances (SHA)
- Category 3: IT and telecommunications equipment
- Category 4: Consumer equipment
- Category 5: Lighting equipment
- Category 6: Electrical and electronic tools
- Category 7: Toys, leisure and sports equipment
- Category 10: Automatic dispensers
Batteries are not covered by the directive. Since the recast, the new RoHS directive includes categories 8 and 9 and create a 11th category:
- Category 8: Medical devices
- Category 9: Monitoring and control instruments including industrial monitoring and control instruments
- Category 11: Other EEE not covered by any of the categories above.
4. Labelling
Since 1st of July 2006, all new products put on the market are expected to comply with the RoHS directive. The new RoHS directive requires that products bearing ‘CE’ marking are presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to comply with the directive.
However, some manufacturers have introduced their own identification system: « Pb free »; « RoHS compliant »; « Lead free »; etc.
5. References
– European parliament and council. Directive 2011/65/EC of June, 28th2011
– European parliament and council. Directive 2002/95/EC of January, 27th 2003.
– European parliament and council. Commission decision amending directive 2002/95/EC of the European parliament and of the council notified under 2005/618/EC. August 18th 2005.