RoHS is an English abbreviation and stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances.
The RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU is part of the CE marking procedure. By affixing the CE marking in accordance with the RoHS Directive, the manufacturer or importer confirms that his electrical or electronic equipment (including the underlying components) is free of hazardous substances.
‘Electrical and electronic equipment’ means devices that rely on electric currents or electromagnetic fields to operate properly with a voltage of up to 1 000 volts at alternating current and 1 500 volts at direct current.
The RoHS Directiveprovides restrictions on the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB and PBDE in electrical and electronic equipment. As of 22 July 2019, Directive 2015/863 (RoHS 3) has entered into force and prohibits the use of DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP in electrical and electronic equipment. At the same time the ‘open standard’ (category 11 in accordance with Annex I of the RoHS Directive) also entered into force, requiring all electrical and electronic equipment (with the exception of products not covered by the Directive) to comply with the RoHS Directive.
