The use of certain metals, plasticizers, and flame retardants in electrical and electronic equipment is restricted. The purpose of RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) legislation is to protect human health and the environment and reduce the harm of waste.

1、 Scope of RoHS

RoHS regulations apply to all electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).

EEE refers to the following devices

·Requires current or electromagnetic fields to achieve at least one expected function or

·Generate, transmit, or measure such currents or fields, and

·The rated voltage of alternating current shall not exceed 1.000 volts, and the rated voltage of direct current shall not exceed 1.500 volts.

Examples of EEE include household appliances, televisions, telephones, battery powered tools, watches, vending machines, and various monitoring devices, such as fire detectors. Many products that are not considered electronic devices but include battery powered LED lights actually meet the definition of EEE. Clothing and other textiles with LED lights belong to electrical equipment.

RoHS does not apply to the following situations:

·Equipment necessary to protect essential security interests or military purposes

·Equipment designed for sending into space

·Large fixed industrial tools

·Large fixed installations

·Means of transportation for personnel or goods, excluding non type certified electric two wheeled vehicles

·Non road mobile machinery specifically designed for professional use

·Active implantable medical devices

·Photovoltaic panels are designed, assembled, and installed by professionals

·Equipment designed for research and development purposes and provided on a business to business basis

·Pipe organ

·Equipment specifically designed to be installed as part of another type of equipment mentioned above.


2、 What substances are restricted?

The restrictions apply to the use of the following substances in EEE and its cables and spare parts:

·Cadmium, cadmium

·Lead, Pb

·Mercury, mercury

·Hexavalent chromium Cr6+

·Polybrominated biphenyls, PBB

·Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDE

·Di (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalic acid, DEHP

·Butyl benzyl Phthalic acid, BBP

·Dibutyl phthalate, DBP

·Diisobutyl phthalate, DIBP

Maximum concentration value:

·Cadmium, 0.01% by weight

·All other substances, 0.1% by weight

The maximum concentration value is the maximum allowable concentration of harmful substances in homogeneous materials. Homogeneous material "refers to a material with uniform composition that cannot be separated into different materials through mechanical action. Examples of homogeneous materials include plastic casings for computers, copper wires in cables, and solder for welds. If homogeneous materials cannot be separated by mechanical action, homogeneous materials can also be a combination of materials. Examples of mechanical actions include rotation, cutting, crushing, grinding, or friction.

Phthalic acid salt restriction precautions:

·Applicable to electrical equipment from July 22, 2019

·Applicable to medical devices and monitoring instruments from July 22, 2021

·For DEHP, BBP, and DBP, this restriction does not apply to toys; The DEHP, BBP, and DBP restrictions related to toys are included in Article 51 of Annex XVII of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH Regulation).


3、 Exemptions related to restricted substance use

The committee allows the use of restricted substances in certain applications. For example, when there are no substitutes for the substance, exemptions can be granted for scientific or technical reasons.

Exemption applies to:

·EEE up to five years

·For medical equipment and monitoring and control instruments, up to seven years can be reached.