RoHS Explained | Complexities to Consider | Exemptions | Official Documents

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>> RoHS DECA – update 1st July 2008

>> Six new RoHS exemptions pass TAC vote.  (1 August, 2006)

>> Understanding "put on the market" dates from a RoHS perspective.  (21 June, 2006)

>> RoHS Enforcement Guidance document released by the DTI's National Weights & Measure Laboratory. (31 May, 2006)

>> Unofficial notes of the Feb. 15th Technical Adaptation Committee (TAC) meeting on the WEEE and RoHS Directives have been published.  Readers may want to view the detailed notes starting at the bottom of page 2 for updates on issues related to the vote on 5 new RoHS exemptions, proposals related to the inclusion of WEEE category 8 (Medical Devices) & 9 (Monitoring & Control Equipment) products into the RoHS Directive and issues related to EU RoHS Enforcement Bodies.  (10 May, 2006)

>>  November, 2005 RoHS Guidance has been published by the UK's Department of Trade and Industry. (15 December, 2005)

>> November, 2005 Perchards "Transposition of WEEE and RoHS Directives in Other EU Member States" report commissioned by the UK Department of Trade and Industry is now available. (28 November, 2005) 

Previous Perchards reports are available here:

• July, 2005
• April, 2005
• January, 2005

>>  Previously proposed additions to the RoHS Annex of exemptions have been formally adopted by the Eurpean Commission to include wording changes to 2 previously adopted exemptions and 5 additional exemptions that had been delayed in the proposal phase for many months..  Visit the RoHS Exemptions page for more information. (21 October, 2005)

>> Two new RoHS Exemptions have been published by the European Commission.  Deca-BDE (a flame retardant that does not cause as much environmental damage as was once thought) and lead in bronze bearing shells and bushes are now exempt.  Visit the RoHS Exemptions page for more information. (13 October, 2005)

>> Maximum Concentration Values (MCV) for the 6 hazardous substances covered by the RoHS Directive have been formally approved in an amendement to the Directive.   The language is as follows:   "For the purposes of Article 5(1)(a), a maximum concentration value of 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials for lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and of 0.01% by weight in homogeneous materials for cadmium shall be tolerated."   Read the complete 1 page document.    Note:  this also clears the way for the UK to transpose the RoHS Directive into law after their summer recess as they were waiting for the EU to take this step.   (19 August, 2005)

>>Unofficial Notes from the Technical Adaptation Committee on the WEEE and RoHS Directives (6 July, 2005)

>>RoHS and WEEE Update Presentation presented by Leonie Tipton, Arrow VP of Global Supply Chain Programs, at the June NEDA Summit.  (9 June, 2005)

>>The European Commission has published guidance to help manufacturers who need to determine whether their products are within the scope of the WEEE and RoHS directives. Read the European Commission FAQs. (27 May, 2005)

>>Germany wrote RoHS into law on March 23, 2005, with the passing of the "Act Governing the Sale, Return and Environmentally Sound Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment", or "ElektroG". Read the text of ElektroG, the restricted substances-specific language begins on page 5. Germany's law restricts the same 6 substances to the same levels as RoHS and also the same exemptions listed in the "Annex (as amended)" to RoHS. Note: the RoHS Annex referred to in the German law is still pending final EU approval. For more information, visit the German Federal Ministry of the Environment website . (15 April, 2005)