RoHS Directive

Definition

RoHS stands for "the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment". The directive restricts "electrical and electronic equipment sold after July 1, 2006, containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)". Each affiliate country is required to apply the product standard to its domestic standard.

The RoHS Directive arose from the "principle of prevention" that is a characteristic of European environmental policy. In Europe, the previously existing WEEE directive regulated the collection, disposal and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment, but the RoHS Directive was developed in consideration of the possibility of hazardous substances in waste products may have adverse affects during the processing cycles or the named six substances could present health risks when recycled.

The EU believes restricting the six substances would expand the application and improve the economics of WEEE recycling and reduce the potential of health risk for workers at the recycle facilities. The EU's RoHS Directive has spurred similar regulations in other countries, such as China's "Electronic Information Product Antipollution Management Procedures" and the California, U.S.A, law banning hazardous materials in video monitors. Efforts by Japanese electric products and electronic parts makers to meet the RoHS Directive resulted in major advances such as the development of "lead-free" technologies. The regulations have also played a key role in the expansion of green procurement practices and company assessments, and audits of their trade partners.