RoHS compliance - what is it?

What is RoHS?

RoHS refers to the "restrictions on certain hazardous substances" in the Hazardous Substances Directive for electronic and electrical equipment. This restriction is based on EU directive 2011 / 65 / EU. If the product is RoHS certified, it confirms that the proportion of hazardous substances or substances difficult to dispose of is limited to the maximum allowable value. Examples of such substances are lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium and cadmium. Electronic equipment manufacturers need to use more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as lead-free welding.

Compliance with the RoHS directive must be confirmed in the EU declaration of conformity. This is done through technical documentation in accordance with DIN EN 50581 directive.

Since 2011, manufacturers are only allowed to use CE certified products. CE see also above. It represents compliance with EU regulation 765 / 2008 and confirms that the product complies with the applicable requirements of the community harmonized legislation for its installation.

What are the restricted materials specified by RoHS?

Substances prohibited by RoHS include lead (PB), mercury (Hg), cadmium (CD), hexavalent chromium (CrVI), polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).

Why is RoHS compliance important?

Restricted materials are harmful to the environment, pollute the landfill, and have occupational exposure hazards in the process of manufacturing and disposal. At reliancecm, we take our certification seriously. From our ISO9001 certification to our RoHS compliant manufacturing plant, we are proud of our customers' vested interests and providing high-quality products and services, and have environmental awareness.

Which companies are affected by the RoHS directive?

Any enterprise that directly sells applicable electronic products, sub assemblies or components to EU countries, or sells products to resellers, distributors or integrators, and then sells products to EU countries, will be affected if any prohibited materials are used.

Are RoHS and WEEE related?

yes. RoHS is closely related to the waste electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE). WEEE compliance aims to encourage environmentally safe recycling and recycling when designing electronic products. RoHS compliance aims to reduce the number of hazardous chemicals used in electronic manufacturing.

In other words, ROHS regulates hazardous substances used in electrical and electronic equipment, while WEEE regulates the disposal of the same equipment.

Is there an exemption for RoHS?

Certain product categories and applications are currently exempt from RoHS compliance. These exemptions usually cover all types of military, industrial, scientific, renewable energy and medical equipment. Equipment spare parts put on the market before July 1, 2006 are usually exempted from RoHS (but spare parts for newer equipment are not subject to this restriction).

If you think your product may meet the RoHS exemption conditions, please check the EU ROHS website for different exemptions and their updated status. Remember that exemptions may change, so check the website regularly to ensure that exemptions related to your products still apply.

Do you have any questions or are you interested in further information? We are glad to be here for you!