What is the RoHS
Directive?
The Restriction of
Hazardous Substances Directive 2002/95/EC is a European directive that
restricts the use of certain hazardous chemicals in the manufacture of
new electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), including mobile phones.
It is a ‘partner directive’ to the
WEEE Directive, which controls the
disposal and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
The Directive took effect
on 1July 2006, and required all EU member states to legislate
accordingly on or before that date.
The restrictions apply to the following six hazardous substances:
1. Lead
2. Mercury
3. Cadmium
4. Hexavalent chromium
(Cr6+)
5. Polybrominated biphenyls
(PBB)
6. Polybrominated diphenyl
ether (PBDE)
The Directive includes
exemptions for specific technical uses of the hazardous substances where
alternatives have not yet been developed. There are also permissible
maximum concentration values (MCVs) which allow for any traces that may
be present due to manufacturing processes, etc.
Has the
Directive become UK law?
The Directive was
implemented in the UK through the RoHS Regulations (Statutory Instrument
2006 No. 1463), which came into force on 1 July 2006. The Regulations
were updated on 1 February 2008 (Statutory Instrument 2008 No. 37).
For government guidance
notes and a full copy of the current Regulations, visit:
www.rohs.gov.uk.
How do the
RoHS Regulations affect consumers?
The Regulations do not
place any specific responsibilities on consumers. However, they do help
to restrict the levels of hazardous substances in the products that are
available to buy in the UK.
How do the
RoHS Regulations affect retailers?
Under the UK Regulations,
all specified EEE sold within the UK must be free from the six hazardous
substances, or contain trace levels below the maximum concentration
levels.
For products produced
within the EU, the responsibility for ensuring compliance with the
Regulations lies with the producer, (see How do the RoHS Regulations
affect producers?)
For products imported into
the EU, the responsibility for compliance lies with the first
organisation to import the product into the European market. Therefore,
retailers who source their products from producers or distributors
inside the EU are not responsible for ensuring RoHS compliance.
However, retailers who
source their products from producers or distributors outside the EU are
responsible for ensuring that the products are RoHS-compliant.
How do the
RoHS Regulations affect producers?
The UK Regulations apply to
those producers that manufacture or assemble EEE in the UK, or re-badge
EEE as their own.
The Regulations place the
following obligations on producers:
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To not place on the
market any products containing any of the specified hazardous
substances. |
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To prepare
documentation showing that products comply with the Regulations
before placing them on the market. |
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To provide
compliance documentation to the RoHS Enforcement Authority on
request. |
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To keep compliance
documentation for 4 years after the product is discontinued. |
Which
products are covered by the RoHS Directive?
The RoHS Directive applies
to the same categories of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) as
the WEEE Directive. However, RoHS currently makes an exception for
categories 8 (medical devices) and 9 (monitoring and control
instruments), in recognition of the fact that these critical products
are manufactured in small quantities and have a long product life. The
EU is keeping this situation under review; the most recent report in
2006 recommended that Category 8 and 9 products remain exempt from the
RoHS Directive until 2012 or 2018.
Therefore the products
currently covered by RoHS are:
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Large household appliances
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Large cooling
appliances |
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Refrigerators |
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Freezers
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Other large
appliances used for refrigeration, conservation and storage of
food |
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Washing machines
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Clothes dryers
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Dish washing
machines |
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Cooking
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Electric stoves
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Electric hot plates |
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Microwaves
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Other large
appliances used for cooking and other processing of food
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Electric heating
appliances |
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Electric radiators
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Other large
appliances for heating rooms, beds, seating furniture
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Electric fans
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Air conditioner
appliances |
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Other fanning,
exhaust ventilation and conditioning equipment |
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Small household appliances
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Vacuum cleaners
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Carpet sweepers
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Other appliances
for cleaning |
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Appliances used for
sewing, knitting, weaving and other processing for textiles
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Irons and other
appliances for ironing, mangling and other care of clothing
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Toasters
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Fryers
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Grinders, coffee
machines and equipment for opening or sealing containers or
packages |
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Electric knives
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Appliances for
hair-cutting, hair drying, tooth brushing, shaving, massage and
other body care appliances |
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Clocks, watches and
equipment for the purpose of measuring, indicating or
registering time |
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Scales |
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IT
and telecommunications equipment
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Mainframes
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Minicomputers
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Printer units
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Personal computers
(CPU, mouse, screen and keyboard included)
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Laptop computers
(CPU, mouse, screen and keyboard included)
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Notebook computers
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Notepad computers
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Printers
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Copying equipment
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Electrical and
electronic typewriters |
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Pocket and desk
calculators |
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Other products and
equipment for the collection, storage, processing, presentation
or communication of information by electronic means
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User terminals and
systems |
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Facsimile
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Telex
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Telephones
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Pay telephones
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Cordless telephones
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Cellular telephones
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Answering systems
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Other products or
equipment of transmitting sound, images or other information by
telecommunications |
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Consumer equipment
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Radio sets
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Television sets
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Video cameras
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Video recorders
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Hi-Fi recorders
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Audio amplifiers
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Musical instruments
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And other products
or equipment for the purpose of recording or reproducing sound
or images, including signals or other technologies for the
distribution of sound and image than by telecommunications |
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Lighting equipment
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Luminaires for
fluorescent lamps with the exception of luminaires in households
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Straight
fluorescent lamps |
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Compact fluorescent
lamps |
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High intensity
discharge lamps, including pressure sodium lamps and metal
halide lamps |
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Low pressure sodium
lamps |
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Other lighting or
equipment for the purpose of spreading or controlling light with
the exception of filament bulbs |
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Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale
stationary industrial tools)
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Drills
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Saws
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Sewing machines
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Equipment for
turning, milling, sanding, grinding, sawing, cutting, shearing,
drilling, making holes, punching, folding, bending or similar
processing of wood, metal and other materials
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Tools for riveting,
nailing or screwing or removing rivets, nails, screws or similar
uses |
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Tools for welding,
soldering or similar use |
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Equipment for
spraying, spreading, dispersing or other treatment of liquid or
gaseous substances by other means |
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Tools for mowing or
other gardening activities |
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Toys, leisure and sports equipment
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Electric trains or
car racing sets |
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Hand-held video
game consoles |
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Video games
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Computers for
biking, diving, running, rowing, etc. |
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Sports equipment
with electric or electronic components |
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Coin slot machines
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Automatic dispensers
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Automatic
dispensers for hot drinks |
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Automatic
dispensers for hot or cold bottles or cans
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Automatic
dispensers for solid products |
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Automatic
dispensers for money |
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All appliances
which deliver automatically all kind of products |
