What is the RoHS Directive?
Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parlement and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) other wise known as the RoHS Directive; seeks to reduce the impact of EEE on the environment by restricting the use of certain hazardous substances during the manufacture of such products. The Directive is a single market directive and is complementary to the Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive.
When?
The RoHS Directive came into force on 1st July 2006
What does this mean?
As from 1st July 2006, producers may not put new electrical & electronic equipment, falling into eight broad categories, onto the European Union market containing any of the six restricted substances in amounts exceeding set maximum concentration levels; with the exception of certain exceptions from the directive.
Who is affected?
The RoHS Directive refers to the ‘Producer’ as any person who, irrespective of the selling technique used, who: manufactures and sells electrical and electronic equipment under his own brand; resells under his own brand equipment produced by other suppliers; and imports or exports electrical and electronic equipment on a professional basis into a Member State.
However, in reality the RoHS Directive will affect everyone within the producers supply chain. This is due to the fact that the end producer’s ability to comply with the RoHS Directive is dependent upon the entire supply chain of all parts, materials, sub-assemblies and components used to make the electrical and electronic equipment.
Find out more about the RoHS Supply Chain.
What substances are restricted?
The six restricted substances are:
Visit the Envirowise website
NB: These pages act as an overview of the RoHS Directive only; the reader should refer to the Regulations directly or seek professional legal advice.
For further information about the RoHS Trusted Kitemark® Service, please Contact Us.
