RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances, a directive originally adopted by the European Union in 2003 (Directive 2002/95/EC) and updated as RoHS 2 (2011/65/EU). Its main goal is to limit the use of specific hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to protect human health and the environment.
RoHS applies to manufacturers, importers, and distributors who place electronic products on the EU market. Over time, other countries like China, Korea, and the US have implemented similar restrictions.
Substances Restricted
The RoHS Restricted Substances List (RSL) is the official list of chemical substances whose use is limited or banned in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) under the EU RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU and amendments). These substances are restricted because they pose health or environmental hazards.
Current RoHS Restricted Substances
As of RoHS 3 (2015/863/EU), the list includes 10 substances with their maximum concentration in homogeneous materials:
| # | Substance | Max Concentration by Weight in Homogeneous Material | Notes/Category |
| 1 | Lead (Pb) | 0.1% | Common in solders, electronics, glass |
| 2 | Mercury (Hg) | 0.1% | Found in switches, fluorescent lamps |
| 3 | Cadmium (Cd) | 0.01% | Batteries, pigments, coatings |
| 4 | Hexavalent Chromium (Cr⁶⁺) | 0.1% | Anti-corrosion coatings, paints |
| 5 | Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB) | 0.1% | Flame retardants in plastics |
| 6 | Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE) | 0.1% | Flame retardants in electronics |
| 7 | Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) | 0.1% | Plasticizer in PVC, flexible plastics |
| 8 | Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) | 0.1% | Plasticizer in PVC, soft plastics |
| 9 | Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) | 0.1% | Plasticizer, flexible PVC |
| 10 | Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) | 0.1% | Plasticizer, flexible plastics |
Requirements for Compliance
To comply with RoHS, manufacturers and suppliers should follow these steps:
- Material Assessment
- Identify all materials in the product to ensure no restricted substances exceed limits.
- Maintain a Bill of Materials (BOM) for traceability.
- Supplier Declarations
- Collect RoHS compliance declarations or certificates from all component suppliers.
- Ensure traceability and documentation.
- Testing
- Conduct testing using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) or chemical analysis for high-risk components.
- Testing is especially important if supplier data is insufficient or unreliable.
- Technical Documentation
- Maintain technical files including test reports, supplier declarations, and risk assessments.
- Required for CE marking and market surveillance in the EU.
- CE Marking
- RoHS compliance is part of the CE marking process for electrical and electronic equipment sold in the EU.
- Continuous Monitoring
- Update BOMs and supplier declarations with new materials.
- Monitor changes in the RoHS restricted substances list, as it evolves over time (e.g., RoHS 3 added four phthalates in 2015)
To stay up to date with RoHS restricted or banned substances, you need to refer to official sources from the EU, since the directive and its annexes are periodically updated. Here’s where to get the authoritative updates:
Official EU Legislation Sources
- EUR-Lex (EU Law Database)
- Website: https://eur-lex.europa.eu
- Search for “Directive 2011/65/EU” (RoHS 2) and “2015/863/EU” (RoHS 3 amendment).
- This provides full text of the directive, annexes, and updates.
- Annexes detail restricted substances, concentration limits, and exemptions.
- EU Commission – Environment & RoHS pages
- RoHS webpage
- Provides latest updates, FAQs, guidance documents, and links to amendments.
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
- ECHA maintains substance information and guidance relevant to RoHS.
- Website: https://echa.europa.eu/
- Useful for checking hazard classification and regulatory updates of individual substances.
National Regulatory Bodies
Some EU countries provide localized guidance or enforcement notices:
- Germany: Umweltbundesamt (UBA) – https://www.umweltbundesamt.de
- France: ADEME – https://www.ademe.fr
They sometimes provide interpretations, timelines for exemptions, and compliance guidance.
Industry Compliance Databases
If you want practical, regularly updated lists:
- IPC (Association Connecting Electronics Industries) – maintains RoHS compliance standards.
- Commercial compliance platforms (e.g., Bureau Veritas, SGS, Intertek) provide RoHS substance lists and testing updates.
