The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012

Overview

The RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) regulations aim to reduce the harmful effects to people and the environment caused by dangerous substances used in the manufacture of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE). Many types of EEE products are regulated to control the levels of hazardous substances that they contain, with the aim of effectively recovering, reusing or recycling these substances. The main purpose is to make electronics manufacturing safer at every stage of an electronic device's life cycle by restricting the use of hazardous materials. 

Currently, RoHS restricts the use of 10 hazardous substances in EEE. These are as follows, each with their respective maximum concentration values:

• Cadmium: 0.01%
• Mercury: 0.1%
• Lead: 0.1%
• Hexavalent chromium: 0.1%
• Polybrominated biphenyls: 0.1 %;
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers: 0.1 %

A further 4 substances were added to the list after the 2015 EU directive, referred to as ROHS 3, was introduced: (See the legislation document linked in ‘References’ below)

• Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate: 0.1% 
• Benzyl butyl phthalate: 0.1% 
• Dibutyl phthalate: 0.1% 
• Diisobutyl phthalate: 0.1%

Application of RoHS 

The RoHS regulations apply to the following categories of EEE: 

• Large household appliances
• Small household appliances
• IT and telecommunications equipment
• Consumer equipment
• Lighting equipment
• Electrical and electronic tools
• Toys, leisure and sports equipment
• Medical devices
• Monitoring and control instruments including industrial monitoring and control instruments
• Automatic dispensers
• Other EEE not covered by any of the categories above

However, there are some categories of electronic equipment that the RoHS regulations do not apply to. To see the full list of these, please refer to page 6 of the guidance document ‘Guidance to RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU’ linked from the references section below.

Special rules apply to the following categories of EEE.  Please refer directly to the regulations for specific details (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/3032/schedule/1):

• Medical devices and monitoring and control instruments placed on the market before 22nd July 2014
• In vitro diagnostic medical devices placed on the market before 22nd July 2016
• Industrial monitoring and control instruments placed on the market before 22nd July 2017
• Cables or spare parts for EEE placed on the market before 1st July 2006