RoHS2

RoHS2, commonly referred to as the RoHS Recast, is Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, which repealed and replaced the earlier RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC. It restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) sold or first placed on the EU market.

Scope and substances: The directive applies to most electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market, including components and assemblies. The original six restricted substances are lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). Since amendments such as 2015/863, four phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP) have been added. Restrictions apply to homogeneous materials within EEE, though exemptions exist for specific applications or for certain devices.

Obligations: Manufacturers must ensure product conformity with RoHS2 restrictions, perform conformity assessment, maintain technical documentation, and issue a Declaration of Conformity. CE marking is required for market access. Notified Bodies may be involved in the conformity assessment process, and importers and distributors share responsibilities to verify compliance.

Enforcement and context: Member states enforce RoHS2, with penalties for non-compliance and market surveillance. The directive is periodically updated through amendments and harmonized via annexes. RoHS2 is integrated with other EU environmental regimes, notably the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive (WEEE) and REACH, shaping the lifecycle management of electrical and electronic products in the EU.