Top Ten Most Commonly Asked

Questions about RoHS Compliance

Source : http://www.actio.net/media/actio-blog/top-ten-most-commonly-asked-questions-about-rohs-compliance/

1. What does RoHS stand for?

RoHS stands for "Restrictions of Hazardous Substances." This is a refreshingly simple acronym in compliance
regulations these days (!) so we should pause here to enjoy it.
Now: RoHS restricts the use of six hazardous materials (cadmium, lead, mercury, plus the three usual suspects)
in manufacturing various types of electronic and electrical equipment. Specifically: RoHS bans placing on the EU
market: new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed-upon levels of lead, cadmium,
mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame
retardants.
2. How do you pronounce RoHS?
In real life, RoHS is pronounced in as many ways as you can think of. But the favored pronunciation in the U.S.
tends to be "ross." Rhymes with Hoss, from Bonanza. Remember Hoss?
Then you can remember "ross."
3. Is RoHS connected to WEEE, the electronics-recycling directive?
Yes. RoHS is closely linked with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE). WEEE
articulates collection, recycling and recovery targets for electrical goods. The point of RoHS is really to reduce
the amount of toxic waste produced by electronics post-use.
The logic is simple: the less toxic the ingredients, the less toxic the product, and the less toxic the waste. Et
voila: RoHS.
So yes, WEEE is part of the EU legislative initiative to solve the problem of huge amounts of toxic e-waste.
4. Are solar panels and wind turbines within the scope of RoHS?
Good question -- the answer keeps evolving. On June 2, 2010, windmills and solar panels were deemed
"excluded" from a RoHS recast. Here's the thinking behind that decision: RoHS is primarily aimed at curbing the
use of toxic chemicals in consumer goods, e.g., household electric and electronic goods. The European
Parliament's environment committee amended a proposal on the recast Directive on the Restriction of
Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS).
The hope of the recast was to widen the RoHS directive's scope from household appliances to all electrical and
electronic devices, unless specifically excluded. But the prospect of a more open scope had made renewable
energy producers anxious. Understandably, they were concerned about being subjected to legislation that the
fossil fuel industry would not have to comply with, putting them at a competitive disadvantage. For more
information on the specifics, we recommend www.euractiv.com.
Currently, solar-powered equipment is still considered to be within the scope of RoHS. It falls under one of the
general categories. (The solar component within the equipment is considered exempt.) But, for example, a
solar-powered calculator would be in scope of RoHS. Expect updates around this subject, though.
5. Should companies place a mark or seal on a product to show it complies with RoHS Regulations?
There is no obligation or standard marking to show RoHS compliance, but consider showing your compliance
anyway to make everything easier for import/export and going-to-market. For compliance with the WEEE
Directive, however, a crossed out wheeled bin symbol must be used. Get extra help on that
here: http://www.weeeregistration.com/ As far as a RoHS-approved "Certificate": there is a requirement in the
UK that an EEE product producer has documentation to demonstrate compliance. Therefore there is no expiry
time or other prescribed approaches to the format of certificates.
Please read Annex D of this document.

6. Does packaging used for a product need to comply with RoHS regulations?
No. But yes. :) Any packaging that is discarded after purchase of the product is not considered to be part of the
EEE and therefore does not fall within the scope of the RoHS regulations. However, compliance of a case or
packaging that forms part of, or may stay with, the product and may be disposed of with the product may need to
comply; this must be judged on a case by case basis. Think of a sticker commonly left on the bottom of a laptop,
for instance. Or a special piece of packaging attractive to children that a child wants to keep.
Industry intelligence will advise that packaging suppliers and users be sensible: know what's in your packaging.
Declare -- or be ready to declare -- anything that remotely smacks of cadmium, lead, mercury or the other three
primary suspects in the RoHS case. Remember, suppliers can pass you cadmium in paint -- packaging
companies and customers must be on top of their ingredients.
7. What are the rules regarding repairing a product placed on the market prior to 1st July 2006?
The RoHS Directive does not apply to spare parts for the repair, or reuse, of electrical and electronic equipment
placed on the market before 1st July 2006. This is so that old equipment can be maintained with spare parts and
to promote the reuse of old electrical and electronic equipment.
It is permissible to place on the market spare parts - containing the hazardous substances - for the repair of old
equipment (if the latter was put on the market before 1st July 2006). But it is not permissible to repair new
equipment (put on the market after 1st July 2006) with spare parts containing hazardous substances. The
marketing of spare parts containing banned substances for the repair of new equipment would prolong the
existence of hazardous substances in the waste stream and hamper efforts to increase recycling.
8. Are LEDs within the scope of RoHS?
No, but the product containing an LED is within the scope.
LEDs sold individually are considered to be components rather than an electrical product and therefore
are not within the scope of RoHS. However, when being used as part of electrical equipment, LEDs do fall within
scope and therefore should be compliant. For instance, an LED lamp is covered by the Directive. Starts to make
sense, doesn't it.
If not, you may need to contact an expert -- or review the gory details yourself (see #10 below) but it isn't always
pleasant reading and has a similar hue to the U.S. OSHA Federal Registers.
9. Can a company continue to manufacture items it was manufacturing before 1 July 2006 without
modification?
No. Any item of electrical or electronic equipment covered by the RoHS scope that is placed on the EU market
from 1 July 2006 will have to comply, regardless of whether it is one of a line of products that existed before that
date. No grandfather clause, sorry.
10. Where can I find all the (more) gory details?
There is more information to be found on Wikipedia of course, and here and here:
RoHS Directive: http://www.rohs.gov.uk/Docs/Links/RoHS%20directive.pdf
WEEE Directive: http://www.rohs.gov.uk/Docs/Links/WEEE%20directive.pdf