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RoHS Compliance/Legislation
The
Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical
and Electronic Equipment (ROHS) Directive (2002/95/EC)
Who
does it affect?
Manufacturers, sellers,
distributors and recylers of electrical and electronic
equipment containing lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent
chromium, polybrominated biphenyls or polybrominated
diphenyl ethers.
This Directive covers
the same scope as the Directive on waste electrical
and electronic equipment (WEEE) except for medical
devices and monitoring and control instruments. It
also applies to electric light bulbs and light fittings
in households.
Purpose:
The Directive aims
to:
• Protect human
health and the environment by restricting the use
of certain
• Hazardous
substances in new equipment; and complement the WEEE
Directive.
Key
elements:
• From 1 July
2006 new electrical and electronic equipment must
not contain lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium,
polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) or polybrominated
diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). These must be replaced by
other substances.
• Certain applications
are exempt from the requirements of the Directive
including mercury in certain types of fluorescent
lamps, lead in the glass of cathode ray tubes, electronic
components and fluorescent tubes, lead in electronic
ceramic parts and hexavalent chromium as an anti-corrosion
of the carbon steel cooling system in absorption refrigerators.
The exemptions will be reviewed every four years.
• Before 13
February 2005 the European Commission will review
the terms of the Directive to take into account any
new scientific evidence.
Timescale:
On 30 July 2004 the
Government published a final consultation (including
draft implementing legislation and non-statutory guidance)
which will run until 29 October 2004.
The Government expects
to bring the Directive into effect through UK law
later in the year.
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