The Directive (2002/95/EC) restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in new electrical and electronic equipment. Therefore, it affects the design of electrical and electronic equipment.
It applies to all categories of equipment listed in the WEEE Directive except medical devices, monitoring and control instruments, or spare parts sold before 2006. There are also other specific exemptions for certain equipment from RoHS.
The Regulations require that since 1 July 2006 new EEE must contain only specified levels of:
- lead
- mercury
- cadmium
- hexavalent chromium
- polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)
- polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PDBEs)
Proposed levels are 0.01% by weight for cadmium, 0.1% for all other substances ‘per weight of homogeneous material’.
Companies are required to survey their sub component suppliers and ask for a guarantee of compliance with RoHS. There are no mandatory requirements for companies to carry out scientific analysis of their materials under the regulations. You must, therefore, make a decision about whether this is necessary or whether you’re confident that the components are already compliant.
The European Commission continues to consult on specific exemptions to the RoHS Directive.
The Regulator is the National Weights and Measures Laboratory.