RoHS 2011/65

RoHS 2011/65 (RoHS 2) is a European Union directive that replaces the first EU RoHS Directive (RoHS 1) No. 2002/95/EC. The acronym RoHS stands for Restrictions of Hazardous Substances, and the directive focuses specifically on electrical and electronic equipment.

The RoHS 2 directive currently prohibits 10 hazardous substances that may not be part of electrical or electronic equipment manufactured in or imported to EU countries. There are limits set for these substances that this electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) must not exceed.

For the given elements and substances, limit restrictions apply in the EU legislation in terms of homogeneous material. Which means a material of uniform composition throughout its mass, which cannot be mechanically divided into different separate materials.

Currently, the restrictions concern the following 10 substances and elements (the first 6 were part of the RoHS 2 directive from the beginning, the other 4 were added in 2015):

Cadmium (Cd):

limit 0.01%

Mercury (Hg):

limit 0.1%

Lead (Pb):

limit 0.1%

Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+):

limit 0.1%

Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB):

limit 0.1%

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs):

limit 0.1%

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP):

limit 0.1%

Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP):

limit 0.1%

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP):

limit 0.1%

Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP):

limit 0.1%

The substances DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP were mainly used to soften plastics. Any electrical and electronic equipment that bears the CE label is assumed to be RoHS 2 compliant at the same time.