ROHS (RESTRICTION OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES)

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) is a product-level compliance based on a directive by the European Union. This directive was primarily introduced to improve the welfare of consumers, manufacturers, and the overall environment. RoHS restricts the use of specific hazardous materials in electrical equipment and electronic products (EEE) that are designed for operation of up to 1000 volts with direct current or alternating current. Non-compliance to the directive can lead to the manufacturer of the product being prosecuted, fined, and there is also the possibility of imprisonment.

The directive specifically restricts the levels of ten hazardous substances, namely lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, cadmium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), and four different phthalates (DEHP, BBP, BBP, DIBP) to a threshold of 0.1% or 1000 ppm by weight of homogenous material. Cadmium is limited to 0.01% or 100 ppm by weight of homogenous material. RoHS is mandatory for manufacturers of electrical and electronic devices responsible to ensure that their products meet these chemical compliance guidelines. While primarily applicable to the electrical equipment and electronic products manufacturing industry, RoHS is also applicable to the metal industry (metal plating, anodizing, and chromating).

WHY IS THE RoHS DIRECTIVE IMPORTANT

Increasing levels of toxicity being leached into the earth due to waste generated from electrical and electronic components, devices, and appliances that eventually end up in landfills.

Controls the use of toxic chemicals in electrical equipment and electronic products.

Protects people and environment from exposure to these ten hazardous chemicals.

Minimizes the hazards of handling these potentially toxic substances during the process of manufacturing and recycling.

SERVICES PROVIDED

An increasing number of countries have already implemented or are in the process of implementing the RoHS legislation. We provide assistance to manufacturers through the process of acquiring the RoHS certification. The steps involved in the process of RoHS certification include the following:

Testing, to determine the levels of the restricted substances in the product. This is done either on-site or via x-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) testing and also includes chemical lab phthalate solvent extraction testing, which is done to determine the values of the restricted RoHS substances in the product.

Process audit, which inspects the manufacturing process of the product to determine strict RoHS on-site compliance.

Documentation review. This includes review of the bill of materials, assembly drawings, technical file, materials declarations, test reports, and conformance/compliance certificates from the various suppliers for the product.

Certification statement, which is issued on the completion of the above processes and is the certificate of compliance to RoHS. This is also known as the Certificate of Conformity or Declaration of Conformity.

Our expert team is well-trained and available to the manufacturers and importers of various electrical equipment and electronic products and provides reliable and efficient third-party testing services to ensure RoHS compliance by issuance of the declaration of conformity according to international standards. Acquiring the RoHS compliance certification by results in the manufacturer gaining the trust of customers and business partners as the certification is done through an independent third-party reviewer, which in turn can result in wider market opportunities, both national and worldwide. Also of note are savings in terms of cost and time to the manufacturer accrued through acquiring the certificate through our team. Last, but not the least is the positive contribution to the environment and to human health, thereby increasing the green quotient of the manufacturer.