The RoHS Directive currently restricts the use of ten specific hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).
Restricted Substances Under RoHS
Based on the provided reference, the ten substances restricted by the RoHS Directive are:
These substances are limited to specific maximum concentration values by weight in homogeneous materials.
| Substance Name | Common Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Lead | Pb |
| Cadmium | Cd |
| Mercury | Hg |
| Hexavalent Chromium | Cr(VI) |
| Polybrominated Biphenyls | PBB |
| Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers | PBDE |
| Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | DEHP |
| Butyl Benzyl Phthalate | BBP |
| Dibutyl Phthalate | DBP |
| Diisobutyl Phthalate | DIBP |
Understanding the RoHS Directive
The RoHS Directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) originated in the European Union and aims to protect human health and the environment from hazardous substances used in electrical and electronic equipment. By restricting these materials, RoHS encourages the design of more environmentally friendly products.
The initial RoHS Directive (RoHS 1, 2002/95/EC) restricted the first six substances: Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Hexavalent Chromium, PBBs, and PBDEs. The recast directive (RoHS 2, 2011/65/EU), which became effective in 2013 and was amended by Directive (EU) 2015/863 in 2015, added the four phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP) to the list, bringing the total to the current ten substances.
These restrictions ensure that EEE placed on the EU market does not contain excessive levels of these harmful materials, facilitating safer recycling and disposal processes and reducing potential exposure risks.
