What is the EU RoHS Directive?

The European Union (EU) Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive (also known as RoHS 2.0) controls the use of hazardous materials in electrical and electronic equipment. The RoHS Directive aims to limit the diffusion of these substances into the environment as contaminants and to reduce occupational exposure during manufacturing and recycling. Therefore, if an electronic product contains any substance that exceeds a certain concentration limit at a uniform level, it cannot be placed on the market. However, RoHS includes exemptions that allow restricted substances to be used in certain applications without alternatives on the market. Any exemptions used must still be disclosed.

About the law

EU RoHS 2.0 (Directive 2011/65/EU) restricts the use of specific hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, medical equipment, and monitoring and control equipment. The purpose of RoHS is to control the release of hazardous substances into humans and the environment. During the process, electronic products and other products may come into contact with these hazardous materials when they are disposed of and eventually enter the landfill. To ensure that their products comply with this consumer safety law, manufacturing companies send samples of their product materials to RoHS testing laboratories like ATS.

RoHS3.0 effective date

RoHS 3 (EU Directive 2015/863) adds Class 11 (all-round) products and adds four new restricted substances - all phthalates, four phthalates are mainly used for insulation Plasticizers and included in the REACH list of SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern). The RoHS restriction will take effect on July 22, 2019.

What is RoHS 3 and how it differs from RoHS 2

According to RoHS 3 or Directive 2015/863, cited by REACH, six additional restricted substances (phthalates) were added to the six original lists, which added 11 more products! Class 11 products include all other electronic and electrical equipment not covered by other categories, including two-wheeled vehicles, electronic gudding delivery systems (ENDS), such as electronic cigarettes, large ma evaporators and vape pens, including operating voltages below 250V cable.

Substances subject to RoHS 2.0:

For these projects, the RoHS 2.0 restriction will take effect on July 22, 2019.

During the testing process, the individual components were analyzed separately and the current limitations apply to each different material, not the entire product.

In order to demonstrate compliance with RoHS II requirements, electrical items must have the CE mark.

The people responsible for RoHS testing and compliance include manufacturers, authorized representatives, importers and distributors.