RoHS refers to Restrictions on Hazardous Substances, a legislative directive adopted by the European Union in 2003. RoHS regulations require the manufacturer to keep certain hazardous substances in their products under 1000 ppm, with the exception of cadmium which is required to be kept under 100 ppm.
This goes for every electrical and electronic equipment and every component of an electronic product.
The Process of Becoming RoHS Compliant
There are many companies that are proudly RoHS compliant, meaning that their products are free from any hazardous substances. All other companies that make electrical products should follow them.
There are many companies that help such companies in this regard. Enviropass environmental compliance services are the most popular in this regard as they have helped over 500 companies become RoHS compliant.
Usually, electronic products are verified through analytical testing and other documentary approaches. The documentary approach is regarded as the best for complex products.
If you are interested in making your products RoHS compliant and earning a RoHS Compliance certificate, you should verify your products and make sure they meet the IEC 6300 standard.
The Legal Status of RoHS Compliance
Many countries, including the U.S., Canada, and Australia, do not have specific RoHS regulations. However, RoHS compliance is mandatory in Europe.
All electrical products must pass RoHS inspections in any EU country. It is important to note that not all EU members implement RoHS the same way. So, if your company is in the EU, you should follow your country’s RoHS standards.
Also, the absence of RoHS laws doesn’t mean that the use of hazardous substances is allowed in those countries. There are still laws that prohibit the use of substances like cadmium, mercury, and certain plastics.
WEE and RoHS
The EU also has another directive named WEEE, standing for The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. WEEE requires all EEE manufacturers to follow certain disposal guidelines.
Both RoHS and WEEE may apply to the same products but both serve quite different purposes and each has its own rules.
RoHS Exemptions
While RoHS applies to many commercial products, certain products are immune to these rules, these include military, industrial, renewable energy, scientific, and medical equipment. However, these exemptions are subject to change, which is why companies must regularly check and see if the exemptions are relevant to their products.
Conclusion
RoHS-compliant products are the safest of all. Even though many countries still do not regard RoHS compliance as mandatory, it is recommended that companies follow RoHS regulations because it is in their best interest as well as in the best interests of the planet.