What is Rohs Compliance

What is Rohs Compliance

RoHS Compliance, also known as Restriction of Hazardous Substances Compliance, is a term used to describe the adherence to regulations established by the RoHS directive. The RoHS directive, formally known as Directive 2002/95/EC, was introduced by the European Union to regulate the use of specific hazardous materials in electrical and electronic products (EEE). The primary objective of RoHS compliance is to safeguard the environment and human health by reducing the utilization of hazardous substances during the manufacturing and disposal of EEE products.

Under the RoHS directive, certain hazardous materials are restricted from being used in EEE products. These materials include lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (CrVI), polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), and certain phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP). These substances are known to have detrimental effects on the environment and can pose risks to human health, particularly during manufacturing and recycling processes.

To ensure RoHS compliance, manufacturers and suppliers must conduct thorough testing and analysis of their products to verify that they meet the specified restrictions. Portable RoHS analyzers, such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) metal analyzers, are commonly used for screening and verifying the presence of restricted substances. Compliance with RoHS regulations is not limited to manufacturers alone; it also applies to businesses involved in the sale, distribution, and integration of EEE products in European Union countries.

RoHS compliance also extends beyond the European Union, as similar regulations have been adopted by several other countries worldwide. Additionally, the RoHS directive has undergone subsequent revisions, including RoHS 2 (Directive 2011/65/EU) and RoHS 3 (Directive 2015/863), which introduced additional restricted substances and expanded the scope of the original directive.