Complementary directives from the European Union that require manufacturers, retailers, importers, exporters and consumers of electrical and electronic equipment (E&E) to participate in stringent requirements for the disposal of resulting waste.
WEEE: Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment
Directive 2002/96/EC covers the waste management of electrical
and electronic products & requires that new equipment placed
on the market within Europe must comply with the directive
RoHS: Restriction of the use of certain
Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment
Directive 2002/95/EC bans the use of certain restricted substances in end products
to prevent them from entering waste streams. The directive sets maximum allowable
limits of the hazardous substances Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr (VI) and Br (from brominated
flame retardants: PBB & PBDE).
ELV: End of Life Vehicles
Prohibits the use of these hazardous substances in vehicles sold
after July 2003.
2.What hazardous substances are covered by WEEE RoHS?
RoHS restricts the use of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), hexavalent chromium (Cr6+), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).
3. What products are effected by WEEE RoHS Directives?
The following product categories are covered:
1. Large household appliances
2. Small household appliances
3. IT and telecommunications equipment
4. Consumer equipment
5. Lighting equipment
6. Electrical and electronic tools (except large-scale stationary and
industrial tools)
7. Toys, leisure and sports equipment
8. Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products)*
9. Monitoring and control instruments*
10. Automatic dispensers
*Exempt from RoHS requirements until which time the EU Commission includes them (estimates are that this will occur in 2008 or 2009).
Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) is defined as devices which are dependent on electric current or electromagnetic fields to work properly, including that equipment used to generate, transfer, or measure such currents or fields. The definition of EEE for RoHS is limited to those devices operating on a maximum 1000 Volts AC or 1500 Volts DC.
4. When do my products have to be compliant with RoHS?
The RoHS Directive goes into effect on July 1, 2006. If you are selling products on the EU market, your products must be RoHS compliant by that date. Note, however, that many manufacturers are requiring compliance from their suppliers earlier than July 1, 2006 so they can make sure they can supply finished goods to the EU.
5. What are Maximum Concentration Values (MCVs)?
Maximum Concentration Values (MCVs) are limits set by the European Commission for each RoHS-restricted substance. The MCVs are:
0.1% by weight maximum for Pb, Hg, Cr6+, PBBs,
and PBDEs
0.01% by weight maximum for Cd
6. Are there any exemptions to RoHS?
Yes. The list of exemptions is growing all the time. Exemptions may be found in RoHS and the RoHS Directive Annex.
7. Why should we worry about RoHS if we are located in the United States?
If your products are sold to the European Union (EU) or if you sell parts to anyone whose products are sold in the EU than you will be effected by WEEE RoHS.
8. What test methods are used to assess RoHS compliance?
X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES), Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CVAAS), Direct Mercury Analysis (DMA), UV-VIS, GC-MS, and other techniques are currently being used.
9. How can I get started, its all so confusing?
Let HORIBA Jobin Yvon help you get started. We can run a free compliance screen of your sample to let you know the concentrations of any hazardous substances present. We can then provide you guidance by your products and your market on what are the next steps to take.
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