Environment Safe

About RoHS 
Who does affect?
 
Manufacturers, sellers, distributors and recylers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) containing:
 
lead; 
mercury; 
cadmium; 
hexavalent chromium; 
polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs); or 
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Separate 
In order to put products on the market in the EU, manufacturers need to ensure that their products and product components comply with the requirements of the Regulations.
 
Purpose
 
The RoHS Regulations implement the provisions of the European Parliament and Council Directive on the Restrictions of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (2002/95/EC) in order to:
 
protect human health and the environment by restricting the use of certain hazardous substances in new equipment; and 
complement the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive (2002/96/EC). 
Key elements
 
As of 1 July 2006 a producer (as defined in the Regulations) may not put new EEE, which falls into any of the eight categories listed below containing more than the permitted levels of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBBs or PBDEs, on the market in the EU.
 
Large household appliances 
Small household appliances 
IT and telecommunication equipment 
Consumer equipment 
Lighting equipment 
Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large ¨C scale stationary industrial tools) 
Toys, leisure and sports equipment 
Automatic dispensers 
These categories reflect the categories in the WEEE Directive. In addition, the RoHS Regulations apply to both electric light bulbs and to house light fixings.
Certain applications listed in the RoHS Regulations are exempt, and there is also an exemption for spare parts used for the repair of equipment put on the market before 1 July 2006. The Regulations do not apply to the re-use of equipment placed on the market before 1 July 2006.
 
Requirements
 
Producers must be able to demonstrate compliance by submitting technical or other information to the enforcing authority on request. They must retain such documentation for four years after the EEE is placed on the market.
 
Enforcement
 
The Secretary of State has the duty of enforcing the RoHS Regulations and may appoint a third party to act on his behalf. The enforcement powers include a power to serve a compliance notice and make test purchases. Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of the Regulations will be guilty of an offence.
 
Timescale
 
the ROHS Regulations came into force on 1 July 2006