RoHS stands for the Restriction of Hazardous Substances which normally include 10 hazardous substances. The regulation mostly applies to Electrical and Electronic Equipment. RoHS regulations play an important role in protection of human health, environmental protection and responsible waste disposal. In our ever eco conscious world it is very important to ensure that manufacturers source their components from reputable suppliers and implement procedures which ensures that production process and end product are safe and not harmful for all the stokeholds.
The EU directive on RoHS mainly concentrates on the following substances and its limitations:
- Lead (Pb): Maximum allowable concentration of 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials.
- Mercury (Hg): Maximum allowable concentration of 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials.
- Cadmium (Cd): Maximum allowable concentration of 0.01% by weight in homogeneous materials.
- Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+): Maximum allowable concentration of 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials.
- Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs): Maximum allowable concentration of 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials.
- Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs): Maximum allowable concentration of 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials.
- Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP): Maximum allowable concentration of 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials.
- Benzyl Butyl Phthalate (BBP): Maximum allowable concentration of 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials.
- Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP): Maximum allowable concentration of 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials.
- Diisobutyl Phthalate (DIBP): Maximum allowable concentration of 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials.
Not many manufacturers will proceed with testing and obtaining test reports from internationally recognised laboratories, as RoHS testing is mostly destructive and very time consuming and expensive. However, to ensure RoHS compliance, manufacturers will produce their own internal procedures and risk assessments, materials declarations, ensuring that their suppliers of raw materials are RoHS compliant and are providing safe components for the end product.
Some of the products which are in scope of RoHS regulations are: general electronic consumer products, medical equipment, production/industrial equipment.
More and more countries are adopting and implementing RoHS regulations in recent years. Eleos Compliance team will be happy to assist you and answer any of your questions on RoHS in EAC, UAE and Ukraine
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