Short answer
The RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU restricts ten hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The limit is 0.1% by weight in each homogeneous material, and 0.01% for cadmium. RoHS is a CE marking directive: compliance must be documented and declared in the EU Declaration of Conformity.
The ten restricted substances
| Substance | Limit |
|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | 0.1% |
| Mercury (Hg) | 0.1% |
| Cadmium (Cd) | 0.01% |
| Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) | 0.1% |
| Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) | 0.1% |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | 0.1% |
| DEHP | 0.1% |
| BBP | 0.1% |
| DBP | 0.1% |
| DIBP | 0.1% |
Documentation
Technical documentation is normally prepared according to EN IEC 63000: supplier declarations for materials and components, test reports for higher-risk parts, and a risk-based evaluation. Exemptions listed in Annexes III and IV must be cited precisely when used.