RoHS

RoHS is acronym to Restriction of Hazardous Substances, which was first adopted by the European Union. RoHS Directive Restricts the use of following six Hazardous Substances in manufacturing process of Electrical and/or Electronic equipments:

1. Lead (Pb)
2. Mercury (Hg)
3. Cadmium (Cd)
4. Hexavelant Chromium (Cr6+)
5. Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)
6. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE)

RoHs is linked with WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive, which is a part of legislative initiative to reduce and control the problem of e-waste by setting targets of collection, recycling and recovery of waste electronic goods.

RoHS directive applies to Equipments lying in the following categories in conjunction with WEEE directive:

1. Large household appliances
2. Small household appliances
3. IT & Telecommunications equipment
4. Consumer equipment
5. Lighting equipment—including light bulbs
6. Electronic and electrical tools
7. Toys, leisure, and sports equipment
8. Automatic dispensers
9. Semiconductor devices

Objectives of RoHS:

RoHS was mainly designed to control and reduce e-waste and in turn reduce the direct exposure of population towards Hazardous material used in electronic equipments. As the newer technology arrives, instruments with older technology are considered Obsolete and traced. This increases the pool of waste material of electronic goods world-wide and exposes the risk of contamination due to Hazardous material repeatedly used in manufacture of electronic and electrical goods and equipments.

RoHS sets guidelines for collection, recovery and recycling of these e-wastes and thus reduce new probable e-waste.

As being a result of extensive research on toxicities of environment, RoHS sets technology, which is capable of detecting much smaller concentration of environmental toxicants.
RoHS2 directive has been introduced to cover loop holes in RoHS.