EU RoHS
The EU restriction on hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, currently covering 10 substances as part of CE compliance.
What is EU RoHS?
RoHS refers to the EU Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (2011/65/EU) and its amendment (EU) 2015/863, applying to EEE placed on the EU market.
The current version restricts 10 substances: 0.01% for cadmium and 0.1% for all others, calculated by homogeneous material.
RoHS is part of CE compliance. Test reports and technical documentation must be retained with the CE technical file, as customs and market surveillance authorities may inspect them at any time.
Applicable products
- Major & small appliances
- IT & telecom equipment
- Consumer electronics
- Lighting
- Electric toys
Application process
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01
Sample breakdown and BOM review
Break samples down by homogeneous material and flag high-risk materials (solder, plastics, coatings, cables).
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02
XRF screening
Run X-ray fluorescence screening on the separated samples to identify suspect materials.
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03
Chemical confirmation
Wet-chemistry testing to IEC 62321 series for out-of-limit or suspect samples, with quantitative results.
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04
Report and compliance file
Issue the RoHS test report and complete the compliance file together with the CE technical file and DoC.
Required documents
- BOM with supplier and material information
- Samples broken down by material (usually 3–5 sets)
- Product instructions and structure drawings
- Supplier RoHS declarations or third-party reports (can reduce test points)
| Restricted substance | Limit (homogeneous material) |
|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | 0.1% |
| Mercury (Hg) | 0.1% |
| Cadmium (Cd) | 0.01% |
| Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) | 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% |
FAQ
How does RoHS relate to CE?
RoHS is part of CE compliance. Electrical and electronic products bearing the CE mark must also meet RoHS restrictions.
Six or ten substances?
The current (EU) 2015/863 restricts 10 substances, adding four phthalates to the original six.
Is XRF testing enough?
XRF is screening only and cannot be the final basis for compliance; out-of-limit or suspect samples still require chemical confirmation.
How long is a report valid?
There is no fixed validity, but reports must be reassessed when materials, suppliers or regulations change; customers usually ask for reports within one year.
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Related compliance documents
Application forms, contracts and procedure documents are available for free in the client center
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