What is RoHS?
RoHS is an environmental directive established in Europe and restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
RoHS compliance is a condition for placing a product on the market in EU member states.
Generally called the RoHS Directive, it is short for the Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
Since the first version of the RoHS Directive (hereinafter referred to as RoHS 1) was adopted in February 2003, the European Commission held many discussions on the directive and an amended version of the RoHS Directive (hereinafter referred to as RoHS 2) entered into force in July 2011.
Adopting the CE marking system, RoHS 2 requires manufacturers to attach the CE mark on products and to create and retain a Declaration of Conformity and technical documentation. In 2015, four substances were newly designated as restricted substances and now there are 10 restricted substances in all.
| Adopted or Entered into Force | Number of Restricted Substances | Effective Date of Restriction for Substances | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RoHS1 2002/95/EC |
Feb-03 | 6 | Categories 1 to 7, 10: From July 1, 2006 |
| RoHS2 2011/65/EU |
Jul-11 | 10 | Categories 1 to 7, 10, 11: From July 22, 2019 Categories 8 and 9: From July 22, 2021 |
Covered Products
Although products of category 8 (medical devices) and category 9 (monitoring and control instruments including industrial monitoring and control instruments) were exempted from restriction in RoHS 1, they are no longer exempted in RoHS 2. Furthermore, a new category was added: category 11 “Other electrical and electronic equipment.”
RoHS specified products
| Category | Products | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Large household appliances | Large cooling appliances, refrigerators, washing machines, dish washers, cooking equipment, air conditioners, etc. | |
| 2. Small household appliances | Vacuum cleaners, irons, toasters, hair dryers, electric toothbrushes, clocks, watches, scales, etc. | |
| 3. IT and telecommunications equipment | Computers, personal computers, printers, copy machines, electrical calculators, phones, mobile phones, etc. | |
| 4. Consumer equipment | Radios, televisions, video cameras, VTRs, audio equipment, amplifiers, musical instruments, etc. | |
| 5. Lighting equipment | Fluorescent lamps, lamps including sodium-vapor lamps and halogen lamps, lighting control devices | |
| 6. Electrical and electronic tools | Electric drills, sewing machines, welding machines, soldering tools, sprayers, etc. | |
| 7. Toys, leisure and sports equipment | Electric trains, video games, computers for sports equipment, coin slot machines, etc. | |
| 8. Medical devices | Medical devices | Radiotherapy equipment, dialyzers, pulmonary ventilators, etc. |
| In vitro diagnostic medical devices | Medical devices for in-vitro diagnosis | |
| 9. Monitoring and control instruments | Monitoring and control instruments | Smoke detectors, heating regulators, thermostats, etc. |
| Industrial monitoring and control instruments | Monitoring and control instruments for industrial installations | |
| 10. Automatic dispensers | Drink/food vending machines, cash dispensers, etc. | |
| 11. Other electrical and electronic equipment not covered by any of the categories above | All other electrical and electronic equipment not covered by the above categories | |
Our products fall under the sub-category “Industrial monitoring and control instruments” of category 9 “Monitoring and control instruments.”
Maximum Allowable Content of the 10 Substances Regulated by the RoHS Directive:
Maximum Allowable Content
| Cadmium (Cd) | 100ppm |
|---|---|
| Mercury (Hg) | 1000ppm |
| Lead (Pb) | 1000ppm |
| Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) | 1000ppm |
| Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) | 1000ppm |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) | 1000ppm |
| Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) | 1000ppm |
| Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) | 1000ppm |
| Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) | 1000ppm |
| Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) | 1000ppm |
