Understanding RoHS

With the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulations scheduled to take effect in July 2006, there is ongoing concern regarding the readiness of American companies to meet new European standards. Initiated by the European Union, RoHS is a direct response to growing calls for the regulation of materials deemed hazardous (including lead, cadmium, and mercury) in consumer electronic equipment.

AS consumer and environment concerns gain more and more momentum and political traction, RoHS seems likely to be the beginning of a global trend. Some of the world’s other prime economic regions, including China, Japan and Taiwan are already working on similar laws (China calls it’s the Regulation for Pollution Control of Electronic Products) , and the geographic market for non-compliant products is shrinking.

In today’s global economy, wide ranging regulatory measures such as these have an often profound impact on the operations of affected organizations. We operate in a wide open, ultra-competitive environment where it is imperative to be attuned to new regulations, and essential to be equipped with information that can help preserve a company’s growth potential. By knowing how RoHS impacts a company and learning what is required for compliance, companies can stay one step ahead of the game and one step ahead of the competition.

RoHS directly regulates the concentration levels of substances considered hazardous in electrical and electronic equipment. The substances regulated include :

• Cadmium
  
• Hexavalent Chromium
  
• Lead
  
• Mercury
  
• Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs)
  
• Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)

Maximum allowed concentration values are :

• Up to 0.1% by weight (1,000ppm) in homogeneous materials for lead , mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBBs and PBDEs.
  
• Up to 0.01% by weight (100ppm) in homogenous materials for cadmium