RoHS Directive

The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical Equipment (RoHS) Directive sets out the conditions for placing EEE on the market with regard to the content of prohibited components.

Prohibited substances

The following 6 substances are prohibited (with specified exceptions) in the manufacture and marketing of EEE (or the following limits are set for the maximum mass concentrations tolerated in homogeneous materials):

  • Lead (0.1%)
  • Mercury (0.1%)
  • Cadmium (0.01%)
  • Hexavalent chromium (0.1%)
  • Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) (0.1%)
  • Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (0.1%)

In the case of EEE intended for health care, monitoring and control, the ban applies to:

  1. EEE placed on the market after 22 July 2014,
  2. for in vitro diagnostic medical devices, the ban applies to EEE placed on the market from 22 July 2016
  3. for industrial monitoring and control instruments, the ban applies to EEE placed on the market from 22 July 2017.

Furthermore, the ban applies to all other EEE not covered by Directive 2002/95/EC and placed on the market from 22 July 2019.

Equipment exempted from the RoHS Directive

Cables or spare parts for the repair, reuse, upgrade or increase in capacity of:

1. EEE placed on the market before 1 July 2006;
2. medical devices placed on the market before 22 July 2014;
3. in vitro diagnostic medical devices placed on the market before 22 July 2016;
4. monitoring and control instruments placed on the market before 22 July 2014;
5. industrial monitoring and control instruments placed on the market before 22 July 2017;
6. EEE benefiting from the exemption and placed on the market before the end of its validity, as far as this specific exemption is concerned.