RoHS Certificate
RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. It is a directive that originated in the European Union (EU) and restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The directive aims to reduce the environmental impact and potential health risks associated with the disposal and recycling of electronic products.
The original RoHS directive, known as RoHS 1, was adopted in 2003 and came into effect on July 1, 2006. It restricted the use of six hazardous substances in electronic and electrical equipment:
- Lead (Pb)
- Mercury (Hg)
- Cadmium (Cd)
- Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+)
- Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
These substances are known to be harmful to human health and the environment. By limiting their use, RoHS aims to promote the development and use of cleaner and safer materials in electronic products.
In 2011, an updated version of RoHS , known as RoHS 2, was introduced. RoHS 2 expanded the scope of the directive and introduced additional requirements for conformity assessment and technical documentation. It also included a CE marking requirement, which indicates that the product complies with the applicable EU directives.
How to obtain RoHS certificate ?
RoHS has had a significant impact on the electronics industry globally, as many companies that sell electronic products in the EU market need to comply with its requirements. Similar regulations have been implemented in other parts of the world, such as China and Japan, further influencing the manufacturing practices of electronic devices worldwide.
Obtaining a RoHS certificate involves several steps to ensure compliance with the RoHS directive. Here is a general outline of the process:
- Determine applicability: Confirm whether your product falls within the scope of the RoHS directive. It typically applies to electrical and electronic equipment, including components, sub-assemblies, and finished products. Certain exemptions may exist for specific product categories.
- Understand substance restrictions: Familiarize yourself with the restricted substances under the RoHS directive. Ensure that your product does not exceed the maximum allowed concentration levels for these substances.
- Perform product testing: Conduct laboratory testing to determine the presence and concentration levels of restricted substances in your product. You may need to engage a third-party testing laboratory that is accredited for RoHS testing.
- Establish a compliance management system: Implement a system to track and manage the compliance of your products. This includes maintaining documentation of materials, suppliers, and testing results.
- Supplier engagement: Communicate with your suppliers to obtain declarations of compliance for the materials and components they provide. Ensure that they also adhere to RoHS requirements.
- Compile technical documentation: Gather and organize all relevant technical documentation, including test reports, supplier declarations, and product specifications.
- Prepare a Declaration of Conformity: Create a Declaration of Conformity that states your product complies with the RoHS directive. It should include information such as product identification, compliance statement, and relevant supporting documentation references.
- CE marking: If your product is covered by other applicable EU directives, you may need to affix the CE mark to indicate compliance. The RoHS certificate is usually part of the overall compliance documentation.
- Retain records: Maintain records of all compliance-related documentation, including test reports, supplier declarations, and Declarations of Conformity. These records should be readily available for inspection.
What products are covered by RoHS?
The RoHS directive covers a wide range of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). The term “EEE” encompasses various products that rely on electric currents or electromagnetic fields for their intended use. While the directive does not provide an exhaustive list of products, here are some examples of items typically covered by RoHS:
- Large household appliances: Refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, air conditioners, etc.
- Small household appliances: Vacuum cleaners, coffee machines, toasters, electric fans, irons, etc.
- IT and telecommunications equipment: Computers, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, printers, routers, telephones, fax machines, etc.
- Consumer electronics: TVs, radios, DVD players, video game consoles, cameras, audio equipment, etc.
- Lighting equipment: Lamps, light fixtures, bulbs, LED displays, etc.
- Electrical and electronic tools: Drills, saws, soldering irons, sewing machines, lawnmowers, etc.
- Toys, leisure, and sports equipment: Electronic toys, video game consoles, remote-controlled vehicles, exercise machines, etc.
- Medical devices: Monitoring equipment, diagnostic tools, dental instruments, imaging devices, etc.
- Automatic dispensers: Vending machines, ATMs, ticket machines, etc.
- Power tools and gardening equipment: Electric drills, chainsaws, lawnmowers, trimmers, etc.
- Monitoring and control instruments: Thermostats, gauges, measuring devices, timers, etc.
- Industrial equipment: Manufacturing machinery, control panels, robotic systems, etc.