About RoHS enforcement

20 September 2006 Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services

On 1 July 2006 the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 implementing the European Directive came fully into force. These regulations restrict the use of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBE and PBDE in electronic and electrical equipment covered by the regulations.

Producers and importers into the European Union are responsible for ensuring that their products comply with the regulations and that they maintain evidence of that compliance for inspection by the enforcement authority.

The RoHS Enforcement Authority in the UK (www.rohs.gov.uk) has begun enforcement of the regulations since the coming into force and has already been working closely with trade associations, quality systems organisations and individual companies providing advice and support on the interpretation of the regulations. Enforcement is broadly following the guidance developed by the European Enforcement Bodies Network.

An enforcement guidance document can be found on the website of the RoHS Enforcement Authority at www.rohs.gov.uk in the links section called RoHS Enforcement Guidance - May 06. This document complements the organisation's policy of trying to help those that are aiming to comply, and to pursue vigorously those that intend to flout compliance with the regulations.

To find out if a product needs to comply with the RoHS requirements, a useful 'Decision Tree' section (www.rohs.gov.uk/DecisionTree.aspx) on the RoHS website can be referred to. This tree leads one through a number of questions and decides on whether the product is required to comply with RoHS requirements or not. The advice contained is based on the best and most up to date information available to the group at the time. However, it is a live document and will continue to change as the organisation receives feedback and/or clarification from the regulators.

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