RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) - Directive 2002/95/CE - 2002/96/CE
The RoHS directive of the European Union means: Restrictions of the use of certain dangerous substances in the electric and electronic components.
This directive, applicable to July 1, 2006, prohibited the entry of the market of the European Union to the new electric and electronic components containing lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium exceeding of the agreed levels as well as fireproofing products with polybromobiphényl (PBB) and diphenylic polybromine ether (DPBE).
Manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and distributors must understand and include the requirements of the RoHS directive in order to make sure that their products are in conformity. Conformity with RoHS will be managed by each government of the European Union. No equipment not respecting this regulation is authorized with being put on sale on the market.
The products concerned with RoHS are:
- large domestic machines
- small domestic machines
- data-processing equipment and of telecommunications
- general public material
- lighting equipment
- electric and electronic tools (except for the large fixed industrial tools)
- toys, equipment of leisure and sport
- medical devices
- instruments for monitoring/of control
- vending machines