The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive 2002/95/EC, RoHS, short for Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, was adopted in February 2003 by the European Union.

Each European Union member state will adopt its own enforcement and implementation policies using the directive as a guide.

RoHS is often referred to (inaccurately) as the 'lead-free directive', but it restricts the use of the following six substances:

• Lead (Pb)

• Mercury (Hg)

• Cadmium (Cd)

• Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+)

• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)

• Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)

• PBB and PBDE are flame retardants used in several plastics. Hexavalent chromium is used in chrome plating, chromate coatings and primers, and in chromic acid.

The directive applies to equipment as defined by a section of the WEEE directive. The following numeric categories apply:

• Large household appliances.

• Small household appliances.

• IT & Telecommunications equipment (although infrastructure equipment is exempt in some countries)

• Consumer equipment.

• Lighting equipment—including light bulbs.

• Electronic and electrical tools.

• Toys, leisure, and sports equipment.

• Medical devices (exemption removed in July 2011)

• Monitoring and control instruments (exemption removed in July 2011)

• Automatic dispensers.

• Semiconductor devices

It does not apply to fixed industrial plant and tools. Compliance is the responsibility of the company that puts the product on the market, as defined in the Directive; components and sub-assemblies are not responsible for product compliance. Of course, given the fact that the regulation is applied at the homogeneous material level, data on substance concentrations needs to be transferred through the supply chain to the final producer.

Examples of product components containing restricted substances

RoHS restricted substances have been used in a broad array of consumer electronics products. Examples of leaded components include:

• Paints and pigments

• PVC (vinyl) cables as a stabilizer (e.g., power cords, USB cables)

• Solders

• Printed circuit board finishes, leads, internal and external interconnects

• Glass in television and photographic products (e.g., CRT television screens and camera lenses)

• Metal parts

• Lamps and bulbs

• Batteries

Benefits

RoHS helps reduce damage to people and the environment in third-world countries where much of today's "high-tech trash" ends up. The use of lead-free solders and components has provided immediate health benefits to electronics industry workers in prototype and manufacturing operations. Contact with solder paste no longer represents the same health hazard as it used to.

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive 2002/95/EC, RoHS, short for Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, was adopted in February 2003 by the European Union.

Each European Union member state will adopt its own enforcement and implementation policies using the directive as a guide.

RoHS is often referred to (inaccurately) as the 'lead-free directive', but it restricts the use of the following six substances:

• Lead (Pb)

• Mercury (Hg)

• Cadmium (Cd)

• Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+)

• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)

• Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)

• PBB and PBDE are flame retardants used in several plastics. Hexavalent chromium is used in chrome plating, chromate coatings and primers, and in chromic acid.

The directive applies to equipment as defined by a section of the WEEE directive. The following numeric categories apply:

• Large household appliances.

• Small household appliances.

• IT & Telecommunications equipment (although infrastructure equipment is exempt in some countries)

• Consumer equipment.

• Lighting equipment—including light bulbs.

• Electronic and electrical tools.

• Toys, leisure, and sports equipment.

• Medical devices (exemption removed in July 2011)

• Monitoring and control instruments (exemption removed in July 2011)

• Automatic dispensers.

• Semiconductor devices

It does not apply to fixed industrial plant and tools. Compliance is the responsibility of the company that puts the product on the market, as defined in the Directive; components and sub-assemblies are not responsible for product compliance. Of course, given the fact that the regulation is applied at the homogeneous material level, data on substance concentrations needs to be transferred through the supply chain to the final producer.

Examples of product components containing restricted substances

RoHS restricted substances have been used in a broad array of consumer electronics products. Examples of leaded components include:

• Paints and pigments

• PVC (vinyl) cables as a stabilizer (e.g., power cords, USB cables)

• Solders

• Printed circuit board finishes, leads, internal and external interconnects

• Glass in television and photographic products (e.g., CRT television screens and camera lenses)

• Metal parts

• Lamps and bulbs

• Batteries

Benefits

RoHS helps reduce damage to people and the environment in third-world countries where much of today's "high-tech trash" ends up. The use of lead-free solders and components has provided immediate health benefits to electronics industry workers in prototype and manufacturing operations. Contact with solder paste no longer represents the same health hazard as it used to.