Overview of RoHS Compliance Certification
RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. It restricts the usage of certain harmful substances used in electrical and electronic equipment. In India, there is a great demand for electronic products that use hazardous substances which harm the environment and human health.
RoHS Directives were formed to spread awareness among consumers and restrict the use of harmful substances in electrical and electronic equipment. Keeping all the dangerous effects of electronic waste in mind, The Ministry of Environment and Forest, and the Government of India are encouraging the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) under E-waste Management.
Importance of ROHS Certification
RoHS Compliance is important for manufacturers, importers, or exporters dealing in electrical and electronic equipment as:
- It is a legal requirement for any EEE Product to be sold in many countries like the European Union and the United Kingdom.
- In India, RoHS Compliance has been encouraged under E-Waste Management to use less harmful substances. In the future, it might be a legal requirement in India as well. Therefore, companies already in compliance with RoHS will have a competitive edge.
- Indian Consumers are becoming more aware of the environment and health safety. Therefore, a RoHS-compliant product influences their buying decision.
Who needs to Obtain ROHS Compliance?
- Companies that manufacture or import electrical and electronic components for Retail or Industrial use. (Some exemptions are mentioned below in the article).
- RoHS compliance is mandatory in countries like the EU, UK, etc. Businesses having any presence in these countries must comply with the RoHS Directive.
History and Background of RoHS
- The first RoHS directive (2002/95/EC) was adopted by the European Union on January 27, 2003, and took effect on July 1, 2006.
- In 2011, RoHS 2 replaced RoHS 1, adding CE marking, more product categories, and stricter measures.
- The RoHS 3, Directive 2015/863 was an amendment to RoHS 2 that added four additional restricted substances by making it a total of ten restricted substances.
- Later it was adopted by many other countries like China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the UAE.
Industries Affected by ROHS Compliance Requirements
Many industries are impacted by ROHS Compliance, such as:
- Automotive Industry: They include electronic vehicle components like infotainment systems, sensors, and battery management systems.
- Electronics & Electrical: It covers various consumer electronics, industrial equipment, medical devices, and more.
- Medical Device Industry: Various Medical Devices like imaging equipment, diagnostic tools, and electronic medical instruments.
- Aerospace & Defense : Multiple Military and aerospace applications are affected, though some exemptions exist.
- Lighting equipment: like LED, fluorescent, and electronic lighting products
- Telecom Industry: It includes Networking equipment, mobile devices, and communication systems.
List of ROHS Restricted Substances and their allowable limits
Many harmful substances are restricted and their allowable limits as defined under RoHS guidelines are as follows:
- Mercury – 0.1% (1000 ppm)
- Lead – 0.1% (1000 ppm)
- Hexavalent Chromium – 0.1% (1000 ppm)
- Polybrominated Biphenyls – 0.1% (1000 ppm)
- Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers– 0.1% (1000 ppm)
- BisPhthalate – 0.1% (1000 ppm)
- Benzyl Butyl Phthalate – 0.1% (1000 ppm)
- Dibutyl Phthalate – 0.1% (1000 ppm)
- Diisobutyl Phthalate – 0.1% (1000 ppm)
List of exempted products under RoHS
- Military equipment
- Aerospace equipment
- Most automotive equipment
- Products still under research & development
- A few medical devices
- Photovoltaic panels
- Large-scale stationary industrial tools and large-scale fixed installations