The RoHS directive restricts certain hazardous substances (lead, mercury, cadmium and others) in electrical and electronic equipment.
The 10 restricted substances
Lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), and 4 phthalates added in 2015: DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP (Delegated Directive (EU) 2015/863). For the first 6, the limit is 0.1% of the weight of each homogeneous material (a solder, a plastic, a coating…), and 0.01% for cadmium (Annex II). Cables and spare parts are covered too (Article 4(1)).
Who is affected
- All products with an electrical or electronic component, unless specifically excluded.
- The manufacturer (often in Asia): it carries out the assessment, the technical documentation, the EU declaration of conformity and the CE marking.
- The European importer (Article 9): before selling, it checks that the manufacturer has carried out the assessment, drawn up the technical documentation and affixed the CE marking; it puts its own name and address on the device (or on the packaging). If it thinks a device does not comply, it does not sell it and informs the manufacturer and the authorities.
- The distributor (Article 10): it checks the CE marking and that the documents are in a language the buyer understands.
What to do
- Obtain from the manufacturer the EU declaration of conformity citing the RoHS directive.
- Ask the manufacturer for the test reports on the 10 substances.
- Check the CE marking and the details of the manufacturer and the importer on the device.
- If the product benefits from an exemption (Annexes III and IV), check that it is still valid: exemptions have end dates.
Dates
- Permanent rule; the list of exemptions is reviewed regularly by the European Commission.
Official sources (read on 01/11/2026) : Directive 2011/65/UE (RoHS), art. 4, 9, 10, annexe II — EUR-Lex · European Commission — RoHS Directive (the 10 substances)
General information, not legal advice. Check the official source before you decide.