Why is RoHS compliance important?
The materials that are restricted are environmental hazards. They pollute landfill sites and are also dangerous for workers during recycling and manufacturing. With the world becoming more and more electronic and digitized from devices like wireless cameras, smart technology, Alexa, drones, robots, medical wearables, and 3D printing, for example, RoHS is more important than ever.
Is RoHS compliance related to WEEE?
WEEE stands for Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment. It is closely related to RoHS in that products must meet a directive (2002/96/EU), which mandates how electronic and electric equipment is treated, recovered and recycled.
Does RoHS apply to batteries in electronic equipment?
No. Batteries are covered under a different directive (2006/66/EU and 2013/56/EU). There are certain levels of mercury, lead, and cadmium that batteries are allowed to have.
Do RFID tags need to comply with RoHS?
Yes. Both active and passive RFID tags need to comply with RoHS regulations.
How is compliance to RoHS enforced?
Different member states have different enforcement bodies like the National Measurements Office (NMO).
What penalties are there for non-compliance?
These vary between member states. There are different fines and penalties. Some member states impose fines, others even have imprisonment.
What does RoHS mean for non-EU manufacturers?
Although the directive is EU-based, it requires every manufacturer and company that imports into the European Union to adhere to the requirements. It’s important to have the right information available to your customers if they request it.
What is exempt from RoHS?
There are certain exemptions to RoHS under Annex III and IV for specific product applications. Suppliers and manufacturers can’t assume their products, components, materials or parts are exempt. It’s important to request approval for exemptions. If you apply for exemption improperly, you could be seen as being non-compliant and enforcement action may be taken. All exemptions are temporary and are reviewed every four years. There is an expiration date on many exemptions because of this.
Some exemptions include:
- Items designed for space e.g. space probes and satellites
- Computers for aircraft
- Large-scale stationary industrial tools like cranes
- Large-scale fixed installations like conveyor transport systems and lifts
- Transport – cars, aircraft, trains, commercial vehicles, boats
- Non-road mobile machineries like harvesters, forklifts, hydraulic excavators and road maintenance equipment
- Active implantable medical devices like pacemakers
- Photovoltaic panels e.g. solar arrays
Does packaging need to comply with RoHS?
No. Packaging has its own directive – the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC)
At what stage does a product need to be compliant?
As soon as the product is placed on the market by an importer or a manufacturer, it needs to be compliant.
What markings requirements do products need for tracing?
Manufacturers are required to mark their equipment with type, serial or batch number or another element to allow its identification. Businesses can decide the frequency of marking by product line, batch or individual serial number.
Do the restrictions apply to manufacturing or just the end product?
The restricted substance levels are only for the finished product and not for the production process.