Standards for the RoHS directive

Directive 2011/65/EU, also known as the RoHS Directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), has regulated the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment in the European Union since 1 July 2011. The directive prohibits the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), in particular:

• Lead (Pb)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺)
• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)

Materials and components and electrical and electronic equipment for which tests or measurements demonstrating compliance with the requirements of Article 4 of the RoHS Directive have been carried out, or which have been assessed according to harmonised standards, the "references of which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union", shall be presumed to comply with the requirements of Directive 2011/65/EU.

By affixing the CE marking, the manufacturer declares that the product meets the applicable requirements and is the visible consequence of a whole process that includes the conformity assessment in the broader sense.
 

Harmonised standards for the RoHS Directive in the EU Official Journal

A publication of harmonised standards as references in the EU Official Journal for the EMC Directive occurs at irregular intervals by means of so-called implementing decisions, which amend the existing list of harmonised standards for Directive 2011/65/EU.

Within the framework of such a decision standards created on behalf of the Commission are added. This can be done by adding new standards that are listed in the EU Official Journal for the first time, or by including direct successor documents if the predecessor standard no longer corresponds to the state of the art and had to be adapted to changed requirements. An ad hoc adjustment at short notice can also be made via amending standards, which only include a targeted adjustment of a specific section of the ‘basic standard’.

When new successor standards are adopted, the predecessors are removed from the EU Official Journal after a transitional period. This is currently 18 months in order to give manufacturers sufficient time to adapt to the changed safety and health requirements.