RoHS marking: the directive that affects your electronic products

If you import any product that runs on electricity — from a simple charger to an appliance or a toy with lights — there's an EU directive that almost certainly affects you: RoHS. Ignoring it can stop you from selling legally in the EU.

We explain what it is, which substances it restricts, which products it applies to and how to prove you comply.

What the RoHS directive is

RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) is the EU directive that restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. Its goal is to protect health and the environment by reducing heavy metals and certain flame retardants and plasticisers, which are toxic and hinder recycling.

Which substances it restricts and in what amount

RoHS currently limits ten substances, each with a maximum value per homogeneous material (most at 0.1% by weight, except cadmium at 0.01%):

• Lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium.
• Brominated flame retardants (PBB and PBDE).
• Four phthalates: DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP.

Is your product affected?

RoHS covers virtually any device that depends on electric current or electromagnetic fields to work: consumer electronics, appliances, tools, lighting, electronic toys or IT equipment. Compliance almost always goes hand in hand with the CE marking of these products.

How compliance is demonstrated

• Request the test reports from a recognised laboratory from the manufacturer.
• Check that they cover all relevant homogeneous materials, not just a part.
• Include RoHS conformity in the EU Declaration of Conformity.
• Keep the documentation: authorities may request it for years.

RoHS, REACH and other acronyms: don't mix them up

RoHS focuses on electrical and electronic equipment; the REACH regulation governs chemical substances in general, including in non-electronic products. Many products must comply with both at once. Being clear on which applies stops you requesting the wrong certificate.

How R'S WARE helps you

We verify your Chinese suppliers' RoHS reports, check their authenticity and validity, and catch expired, forged or incomplete certificates before the order leaves the factory.