RoHS Regulations Worldwide

When managing the sale of electronic devices, it is crucial to adhere to the laws restricting the substances used. Specifically, RoHS regulations aim to protect human health and the environment restricting certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. This directive originating in the European Union (EU) has become global practice, with many countries having similar regulations.

RoHS Regulations Across the Globe

Notably, the following countries also have RoHS regulations:

China
Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)
India
Saudi Arabia
Taiwan
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
United Kingdoms (UK)

Although each country regulations have the same intent of preventing the use of toxic substances from the design, there are differences in the application.

The differences between the regulations exist in the hereafter mentioned elements:

Substances
Concentration limits
Labeling
Scope
Applicable technical standards
Notified body

Table 1 – Comparison of RoHS Regulations

	EU	Turkey	Ukraine	UK	India	China	Saudi Arabia	UAE	EAEU
Phthalates*	✓	X	✓	✓	X	✓	X	✓	X
Label					X	or	X	or
Applicable Technical Standards	IEC 63000 IEC 62321 IEC 62476	=	=	=	=	GBT 26572-2011 SJ/Z 11388-2009 SJ/T 11364-2014	IEC 63000 SASO IEC 62321 SASO IEC TR 62476	ISO 17025 IEC 62321	Same as the EU, referenced as regulation: TR CU 037/2016
Notified Body	X	X	X	X	X	X	SASO	ESMA	X

*Inclusion of the EU Directive 2015/863 to include four phthalates

Note: = indicates countries where the criteria are similar or the same to the EU

Table 2 – RoHS Scope

The in-scope product categories are the same in most countries as with EU RoHS, with a few exceptions:

	EU	Turkey	Saudi Arabia	India
Scope	1. Large household appliances. 2. Small household appliances. 3. IT and telecommunications equipment. 4. Consumer equipment. 5. Lighting equipment. 6. Electrical and electronic tools. 7. Toys, leisure, and sports equipment. 8. Medical devices. 9. Monitoring and control instruments, including industrial monitoring and control instruments. 10. Automatic dispensers. Other EEE not covered by any of the categories above.	Scope includes the ten first EU RoHS product categories	1. Home appliances 2. Information and communication technology equipment 3. Lighting equipment 4. Electrical and electronic tools and equipment 5. Play, leisure, and sports equipment 6. Monitoring and control devices	Most IT and telecommunications equipment, except hard drives and other equipment for collecting, storing, processing, or transmitting information electronically Some large household appliances, like air-conditioning units, refrigerators, and washing machines Televisions

RoHS Substances and Concentration Limits

An important aspect while comparing RoHS practices is the substances regulated, the limits set for each substance, and the exemptions that apply.

Every country has the same concentration limits posed under the initial EU directive 2011/65/EU restricting six substances:

Substance	Concentration Limit
Lead (Pb) and lead compounds	0.1% or 1000 ppm
Cadmium (Cd) and cadmium compounds	0.01% or 100 ppm
Mercury (Hg) and mercury compounds	0.1% or 1000 ppm
Hexavalent chromium (Cr 6+) and hexavalent chromium compounds	0.1% or 1000 ppm
Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)	0.1% or 1000 ppm
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)	0.1% or 1000 ppm

*ppm= parts per million

The aspects in this category where we see differences are the inclusion of the EU Directive 2015/863 to include four phthalates:

Substance	Concentration Limit
Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP)	0.1% or 1000 ppm
Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP)	0.1% or 1000 ppm
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)	0.1% or 1000 ppm
Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)	0.1% or 1000 ppm

Not every country has regulated these phthalates in electronics. For example, Turkey includes them from January 1^st, 2024.

RoHS Exemptions

Additionally, the RoHS exemptions lists of each country have some variance from those of the EU. The difference in phthalates and exemptions are summarized below:

Country	Inclusion of Phthalates	Exemptions
EU	✓	General and Medical Devices and Monitoring and Control Instruments exemptions
India	X	Yes
Turkey	✓ from Jan 1^st, 2024	Yes
Ukraine	✓	Yes
China	✓	No. Declarable substances that exceed the limits
UK	✓	Yes
Saudi Arabia	X	Different exemption references
UAE	✓	Yes
EAEU	X	Yes

Labeling per RoHS Regulations

In addition, there is a difference in the labels used to identify products as RoHS compliant in each country.

Country	Label
EU	European Conformity (CE):
India	None
Turkey	Same as the EU. CE mark accepted.
Ukraine	Decree no 1184 or UkrSEPRO:
China	Environmentally Friendly Use Period (EFUP): No substances above the limits: If any substance is above its limit: Demonstrating the number of years in which no hazardous substances would leak or mutate under normal conditions
UK	United Kingdom Conformity Assessed:
Saudi Arabia	None
UAE	2 acceptable markings: Emirates Quality Mark (EQM) obtained by Product Certification Scheme Method: Certificate of Conformity (ECAS) obtained by Registration Scheme Method:
EAEU	Eurasian Conformity Mark (EAC):

Applicable Technical Standards

International RoHS Standards

RoHS standards are the recommendations a manufacturer follows to demonstrate RoHS conformity. The main international standards are:

IEC 62321: Determination of certain substances in electrotechnical products
IEC 62476: Guidance for evaluation of the product concerning substance-use restrictions in electrical and electronic products
IEC 63000: Technical documentation for the assessment of electrical and electronic products for the restriction of hazardous substances

National RoHS Standards

These countries have adopted to following standards:

Country	Applicable Technical Standards
China	GBT 26572-2011: Requirements on concentration limits for certain restricted substances in electrical and electronic products SJ/Z 11388-2009: General Guideline of Environmental-friendly Use Period of Electronic Information Products SJ/T 11364-2014: Marking for the Restricted Use of Hazardous Substances in Electronic and Electrical Products
Saudi Arabia	Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC): ISO/IEC 17067 Type 1a assessment IEC 63000 SASO IEC 62321 IEC 62474: Material Declaration SASO IEC TR 62476
Turkey	Same as the EU, referenced as regulation: TR CU 037/2016
UAE	2 Methods for obtaining RoHS conformity certificates: Registration Scheme Method: Maximum: 45 models, one factory, one brand per submission System of combining assessment of conformity and certification of products ISO 17025 accredited laboratories must tests the devices per standard IEC 62321 Valid for one year Product Certification Scheme Method: Maximum: 1000 models. Multiples factories and brands permitted Self-conformity statement and comprehensive risk assessment documentation per IEC 63 000 & IEC 62476 standards Onsite annual audits Valid for three years

Notified Body per RoHS Regulations

Finally, a notified body is an organization officially designated by a country to assess the conformity of a product, in this case, regarding RoHS. As previously demonstrated in the summary table, these countries require RoHS-notified bodies:

Saudi Arabia: Approved by Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO)
UAE: Approved by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA).

On top of RoHS regulations worldwide, other environmental requirements apply to electronics.

Contact Enviropass for any questions on RoHS regulations!