Restrictions on Hazardous Substances in Electrical Equipment
Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment aims to minimise the environmental impact of waste electrical and electronic equipment by reducing the quantities of four heavy metals and two flame retardants.
Overview
The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive aims to minimise the environmental impact of waste electrical and electronic equipment, by reducing the quantities of four heavy metals and two brominated flame retardants that it may contain.
Products placed on the EU market on or after 1 July 2006 may not contain more than the specified limits of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).
Latest information
- September 2010 - European Commission publishes revised Annex to the Directive listing all exemptions. This Annex must be read in conjunction with amendments published on 29 September 2010 (see links, right)
- December 2010 - European Commission consultation on two RoHS exemptions ("Cadmium as a pigment for use in vitreous enamel" and "Restriction of exemption 1 to non-liquid mercury") http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/index.php?id=76 . Consultation closes 14 February 2011.
Consultations
There are currently no BIS consultations.
Guidance
UK Guidance for business on the Regulations can be found on the Business Link website: www.businesslink.gov.uk
Contact
BIS
Eco-design and Product Regulation Unit
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
1 Victoria Street
LONDON, SW1H 0ET
Tel. + 44 (0)20 7215 5000
Email: env.regs@bis.gsi.gov.uk
