RoHS GUIDE

RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances, and impacts the entire electronics industry and many electrical products as well. The original RoHS, also known as Directive 2002/95/EC, originated in the European Union in 2002 and restricts the use of six hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products. All applicable products in the EU market since July 1, 2006 must pass RoHS compliance.Directive 2011/65/EU was published in 2011 by the EU, which is known as RoHS-Recast or RoHS 2. RoHS 2 includes a CE-marking directive, with RoHS compliance now being required for CE marking of products. RoHS 2 also added Categories 8 and 9, and has additional compliance recordkeeping requirements.Directive 2015/863 was published in 2015 by the EU, which is known as RoHS 3. RoHS 3 adds four additional restricted substances (phthalates) to the list of six.Any business that sells applicable electrical or electronic products, equipment, sub-assemblies, cables, components, or spare parts directly to RoHS countries, or sells to resellers, distributors or integrators that in turn sell products to these countries, is impacted if they utilize any of the restricted 10 substances.

RoHS Restricted Substances
RoHS specifies maximum levels for the following 10 restricted substances. The first six applied to the original RoHS while the last four were added under RoHS 3.

Lead (Pb): < 1000 ppm
Lead is commonly used in the electrical and electronics industry in solder, lead-acid batteries, electronic components, cable sheathing and in the glass of cathode-ray tubes.
Mercury (Hg): < 100 ppm
Mercury is widely used metals in the production of electrical and electronic appliances and is concentrated in batteries, switches and thermostats, and fluorescent lamps.
Cadmium (Cd): < 100 ppm
Cadmium is used in electronic equipment, car batteries, and pigments.
Hexavalent Chromium (Cr VI) < 1000 ppm
While some forms of chromium are non-toxic, Chromium VI can produce toxic effects.
Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB): 1000 ppm
These are flame retardants found in electronic and electrical appliances. They have been found in indoor dust and air through evaporation from plastics.
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE): < 1000 ppm
These are also flame retardants found in electronic and electrical appliances. Combustion of printed wiring boards release toxic emissions.
Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP): < 1000 ppm
These are used to soften PVC and vinyl insulation on electrical wires.
Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP): < 1000 ppm
These are used to soften PVC and vinyl insulation on electrical wires.
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP): < 1000 ppm
These are used to soften PVC and vinyl insulation on electrical wires.
Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP): < 1000 ppm
These are used to soften PVC and vinyl insulation on electrical wires.

RoHS 2 vs RoHS 3
Last year, RoHS 3 was announced, which expands the list of prohibited substances from six to ten by adding four new types of phthalates. This directive has already been adopted by the EU legislature, and member states have until December 2016 to inform suppliers how they are required to meet the standards of RoHS 3. Suppliers then have until the 22nd of July 2019 to meet these provisions. The new list is as follows: Lead (0.1 %) Mercury (0.1 %) Cadmium (0.01 %) Hexavalent chromium (0.1 %) Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) (0.1 %) Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) (0.1 %) Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) (0.1 %) Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) (0.1 %) Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) (0.1 %) Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) (0.1 %) The 4 new members of the party are all phthalates that are used as plasticizers, and are thankfully already banned or restricted in many parts of the world. DEHP accounts for a more than half of the plasticizer industry, for example making up 60% in the Asia Pacific market. It is also heavily prevalent in PVC, which for this reason and others is quickly becoming an unwise choice of plastics in the design of EEE. BBP is widely used in vinyl floor tiles, but can also be found in caulking and adhesives. DBP can also be used in adhesives and in inks. DIBP is used in making PMMA (commonly known as acrylic or plexiglass) plastic. Interestingly, medical devices once again have special rules: The restriction of DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP shall apply to medical devices, including in vitro medical devices, and monitoring and control instruments, including industrial monitoring and control instruments, from 22 July 2021