The RoHS Directive proscribes the use of certain materials in electrical and electronic equipment. The specific materials, and where they may be typically used in traditional electrical and electronic equipment, are covered in more detail in 'Actions for Complying with RoHS - Where do RoHS Materials Occur?'.
The basics are that electrical and electronic products covered by the WEEE Directive (except medical devices and monitoring and control instruments) and put on the market after 1st July 2006 cannot contain any of the following materials at concentrations higher than the maximum permitted level:
Material
Maximum Permitted Level
(%)
Lead
0.1%
Mercury
0.1%
Hexavalent Chromium
0.1%
Cadmium
0.01%
Polybrominated biphenyls
0.1%
Pentabromodiphenyl ether
0.1%
Octabromodiphenyl ether
0.1%
The maximum permitted level is by percentage weight of 'homogeneous material'
Exemptions
The European Commission is constantly reviewing specific technical exemptions to the RoHS Directive.
