21-11-2024
RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances)
RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) is a European Union directive that places restrictions on the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. It aims to protect human health and the environment by reducing exposure to hazardous materials during the manufacture, recycling and disposal of electronic products.
Key features of the RoHS regulation:
- Restricted substances: The directive bans the use of six hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment:
- Lead (Pb)
- Mercury (Hg)
- Cadmium (Cd)
- Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI)
- Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)
- Exceptions: There are some exceptions to the restriction of these substances for certain products or applications, e.g. in telecommunications equipment, medical equipment, or in some cases, in the automotive industry.
- Application: The regulation applies to a wide range of electrical and electronic products, including computing devices, household appliances, telecommunications equipment, electronic toys, power tools, and more.
- Compliance: Manufacturers and distributors of electronic products must ensure that their products comply with RoHS requirements before being placed on the EU market. This involves, among other things, testing and verifying the content of restricted substances in their products.
- Amendments: The RoHS directive has been revised and updated several times. The most recent is RoHS 3, which was adopted in 2015 and extended the list of restricted substances to ten, incorporating new compounds, such as some phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP).
Certification and labelling:
- To comply with RoHS, products must be assessed and, in many cases, certified by specialised bodies. Compliant products are often marked with the RoHS symbol, indicating that they meet the requirements for restriction of hazardous substances.
In short, RoHS is crucial for environmental sustainability and safety in the manufacture and disposal of electronic products.
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