Environmental Legislation

This section of the guidelines provides links to relevant information regarding environmental regulations for electronics (RoHS, WEEE et al.) in the EU and elsewhere.

EU Environmental Directives

Relevant EU sites:

RoHS: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/index_en.htm
WEEE: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee/index_en.htm
ELV: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/elv/index.htm
Batteries: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/batteries/index.htm
Reach: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_en.htm

WEEE collection

Belgian WEEE collection and processing agency: Recupel
European and WW collection agencies: the WEEE forum members.

To find the EU member state WEEE authorities.

 

The following are legally binding documents.

RoHS 3 (English)

  • Commision delegated directive (EU) 2015/863/EU of 31 March 2015 amending Annex II to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the list of restricted substances. 
     

RoHS 2/RoHS recast (English)

  • Directive 2011/65/EU of the European parliament and of the council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (recast).
     

RoHS directive (English)

  • Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
     

RoHS directive (Dutch)

  • Richtlijn 2002/95/EG betreffende beperking van het gebruik van bepaalde gevaarlijke stoffen in elektrische en elektronische apparatuur.
     

Amendments

  • Adaptations to the ROHS directive (recast)
    Directive (EU) 2017/2102 of the European parliament and of the council of 15 November 2017 amending Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
     
  • Maximum concentration values for certain hazardous substances.
    Commission Decision 2005/618/EC establishing the maximum concentration values for certain hazardous substances in EEE.
     
  • Adaptations to the RoHS directive.
    Commission Decision 2005/717/EC amending for the purpose of adapting to the technical progress the Annex to Directive 2002/95/EC.
     
  • Publication exceptions 11 to 15.
    Commission Decision 2005/747/EC amending for the purpose of adapting to the technical progress the Annex to Directive 2002/95/EC.
     
  • Publication exceptions 16 to 20.
    Commission Decision 2006/310/EC amending for the purpose of adapting to the technical progress the Annex to Directive 2002/95/EC as regards exemptions for applications of lead.
     
  • Publication exceptions 21 to 27
    Commission Decision 2006/691/EC amending for the purpose of adapting to technical progress the Annex to Directive 2002/95/EC as regards exemptions for applications of lead and cadmium.
     
  • Publication exception 28
    Commission Decision 2006/692/EC amending for the purpose of adapting to technical progress the Annex to Directive 2002/95/EC as regards exemptions for applications of hexavalent chromium.
     
  • Publication exception 29
    Commission Decision 2006/690/EC amending for the purpose of adapting to technical progress the Annex to Directive 2002/95/EC as regards exemptions for applications of lead in crystal glass.

     

RoHS in Belgium

  • Koninklijk besluit inzake het voorkomen van gevaarlijke stoffen in elektrische en elektronische apparatuur – 12 oktober 2004.
     

WEEE 2/WEEE recast (English)

  • Directive 2012/19/EU of the European parliament and of the council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (recast)
     

WEEE (English)

  • Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
    Contains the definition of product categories.
     

AEEA (Dutch)

  • Richtlijn 2002/96/EG betreffende afgedankte elektrische en elektronische apparatuur (AEEA).
     

Judgment of the European Court of Justice 

RoHS proposals

  • RoHS 3 proposal.
     
  • RoHS 2011: the new proposal
    RoHS expands to category 8 and 9 products, the scope is clarified and decoupled from WEEE, RoHS becomes part of CE-marking  and much more.
    More info: proposal
     
  • 2011: Also leadfree assembly for automotive electronics!
    The latest adaption of the End-of-Life-Vehicle (ELV) directive of August 2008 annuls the exception of lead in the solder of electronics on December 31st, 2010, see Annex II,8.
    More info: Directive 2000/53/EC

     

 

"Non-EU RoHS" legislation

California

China

WARNING: These documents are unofficial translations from Chinese and are only of informative nature.

  • China RoHS: Administrative Measures on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products.
     
  • China RoHS: Management Methods for controlling Pollution by Electronic Information Products – Ministry of Information Industry Order #39
     
  • China RoHS: Electronic Information Products Classification and Explanations
     
  • Standard GB18455-2001: Packaging Recycling Marks
     
  • Standard SJ/11363-2006: Requirements for Concentration Limits for Certain Hazardous Substances in Electronic Information Products.
     
  • Standard SJ/T11364-2006: Marking for Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products.
     
  • Standard SJ/******-Draft: Testing Methods for Regulated Substances in Electronic Information Products.
     

Korea

Japan

Norway

  • Prohibition of certain Hazardous Substances in consumer products (PoHS)