What is RoHS?

Overview

RoHS is a European Union (EU) directive which restricts the use of hazardous materials in electrical and electronic products (EEE) in the EU, with the goal to prevent the risks of electronic waste to humans and the environment.  

The amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) generated every year in the EU has been rapidly increasing as a result in 2002 the EU initiated the RoHS Directive to restrict the use of certain hazardous substances in EEE so that they can be substituted by safer alternatives.  

The RoHS Directive also promotes the recyclability of EEE, since the e-waste now contains fewer hazardous substances. At the same time, it ensures a level playing field for manufacturers and importers of EEE in the European market.

All electronic equipment sold in the EU their components, PCBs and solders must be free of hazardous material such as lead and cadmium, in all electronic products sold in the European Union.

The Directive

The original RoHS, also known as Directive 2002/95/EC, restricts the use of six hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products.

Following that directive in 2011 RoHS 2 also known as RoHS-Recast or Directive 2011/65/EU added the CE-marking directive as well as additional compliance recordkeeping requirements. It also added Categories 8 and 9 (medical devices as well as, monitoring, and control instruments) to the impacted product categories. Link: https://z2data.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/Marketing/EWH7JS1RCxNAtQ6t2DdKjrwBwD3Jz6auCv11lSQ2rF462g?e=gn7bmL

Finally, Directive 2015/863, often referred to as RoHS 3 went into effect July 22, 2019. This directive is referred to as RoHS 3 by many people but still falls under RoHS 2 since there was no legislation change with this directive, but four new restricted substances were added to the list for all electrical and electronic equipment. These substances are all phthalates, and mainly used as insulations. Under the new guidelines, mandatory testing is also now required for the 10 hazardous restricted substances. (

Related to RoHS is the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment, WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC which regulates the recycling of electric and electronic equipment. All applicable products in the EU market must pass WEEE compliance and carry the "Wheelie Bin" sticker.