What is RoHS

In 2003 the European Union enacted the R estriction o f H azardous S ubstances Directive (RoHS) (2002/95/EC).

To protect the environment and health of people working with electrical and electronic Equipment (EEE), a new directive is created by the EU.

This legislation seeks to eliminate the concentration of certain substances from electrical and electronic equipment that falls within the directive scope. Therefore the EU member states shall ensure that, from July 1st 2006, new electrical & electronic equipment put on the market does not contain any of next 6 proscribed Substances:

• Lead
• Mercury
• Cadmium
• Hexavalent chromium
• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)

Article 3(a) of the WEEE Directive defines "electrical and electronic equipment (EEE)" as follows:
Electrical and electronic equipment or 'EEE' means equipment which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work properly and equipment for the generation, transfer and measurement of such currents and fields falling under the categories set out in Annex IA and designed for use with a voltage rating not exceeding 1000 Volt for alternating current and 1500 Volt for direct current.

Scope of the RoHS Directives:

Look The Practical Guide published by ORGALIME, the European Engineering Industries Association to understand the scope of the RoHS and WEEE Directives.
It contains guides to the use of the WEEE / RoHS decision tree.