RoHS Directive for Household Appliances & Electronics

Since its implementation, the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive 2011/65/EU, known as “RoHS 2,” has set the requirements for the limited use or prohibition of certain hazardous substances within electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), including appliances and electronics.

The RoHS 2 Directive prohibits the use of the following substances:

• Cadmium
• Hexavalent Chromium
• Lead
• Mercury
• Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)

In 2011, the Directive was updated to include new requirements, along with establishing dates for compliance.

What are the new requirements?

• Conformity Assessment as per Decision 768/2008
• CE Marking of the product
• Maintenance of compliance
• Documenting evidence of compliance in the product’s technical file
• Reporting of non-compliance
• Stricter enforcement by EU Member States

Although the RoHS 2 Directive has been in place for a decade, a recent enforcement study found that nearly half of household electronics and appliances do not comply with the standard, and a large majority do not meet the mandatory CE requirements.

Intertek’s comprehensive RoHS services for appliances and consumer electrics provide solutions to ensure that products demonstrate compliance with RoHS 2 requirements, allowing for CE Marking and entry into the European marketplace.

For more information, download Intertek’s fact sheet on the RoHS 2 Directive for Appliances & Consumer Electronics

Links:

• RoHS 2 Compliance for Household Appliances blog
• RoHS 2 Directive for Appliances & Consumer Electronics
• Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Services
• RoHS Testing Services
• EU RoHS 2 Recast Directive Services
• RoHS Compliance Assurance Services