The RoHS Compliance was originated and rooted back in the EU when they had a rise and use of the EEE products or the electrical and electronic products. When these EEE products were used, treated or disposed of, harmful substances like cadmium and lead were released. They significantly caused major health issues and environmental problems as well. With the advent of RoHS, these problems were cut short. This is because they prevent the use of these chemicals and substances and substitute them with products that are safe and ecologically sustainable.
The directives of the RoHS prevent the use of heavy metals, plasticizers, and flame retardants in the EEE products:
- Lead
- Mercury
- Cadmium
- Hexavalent chromium
- DEHP
- DBP
- DIBP
- PBDE
- BBP
- PBB
The RoHS directive mainly aims at preventing the risks to which humans and environment are exposed to as a result of using harmful chemicals. This also helped in the efficient management of the EEE wastes. The directive also points towards the recyclability of the EEE and created a safe playing ground for the manufacturers and the importers.
How does the RoHS affect you?
The mandate of RoHS has been passed since 2006 and any electrical product getting sold in the EU market must pass the entire compliance. The scope of RoHS is wide. It includes anything ranging from kitchen appliances, mobiles, laptops to even lighting equipment. There is however no distinction between EEE for consumer use or industrial use.
How can you comply with the RoHS?
Before any product gets out in the EU market, it has to go through a specific conformity assessment step. This will prove their compliance with the RoHS. The assessment process will include everything ranging from the lab testing of the product to creating the technical file at the EU declaration centre. Following tests might get conducted on the product:
- X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) to determine metal and alloy levels.
- Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectrophotometer (FTIR) to identify the presence of polymers and polymer blends.
- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM/EDX) to check the presence of lead-free solders.
- AAS or Atomic Absorbance Spectrophotometry to identify if the EEE contains lead and mercury.
The technical documentation is carefully created with concentration. The relevant provisions of the RoHS must be complied with and met and any non-compliance gets severely punished. Now you too can ensure your complete product safety with the help of Enviropass ROHS compliance.
