RoHS

Commentary

RoHS Revised

EU Directive 2002/95/EC, the RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive, was replaced on 21 July 2011 by EU Directive 2011/65/EU, commonly referred to as RoHS2. The major changes that affected the purchase of electronic components were the adoption of the “CE” mark for indication of RoHS compliance and the elimination of Lead (Pb) in ceramic chip capacitors. Several manufacturers were slow to catch up with the dropping of this exemption, but all are up to requirements now. Otherwise not much has changed for electronic component distribution.

EU Removes DecaBDE exemption

Recent events in the EU have resulted in the elimination of the exemption for Decabrominated diphenyl ether (DecaBDE). DecaBDE is part of the Polybrominated diphenyl ethers already regulated to 1,000 PPM by the RoHS Directive. Therefore when a supplier of products indicates a product is RoHS compliant without an exemption, this would include compliant to DecaBDE requirements. Mouser Electronics indicates the use of an exemption on our website, packing list and product labels.

RoHS changes the world

RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) is the European Union's (EU) Directive 2011/65/EU of January 27, 2003, regarding the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The directive compels members of the EU to write and implement legislation that supports the directive. EU members must be compliant no later than July 1, 2006. The directive limits the allowable amounts of six hazardous substances in EEE products marketed in the EU. These substances are lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, certain brominated flame retardants (PBBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Nothing in recent history has challenged the distribution of electronic components more than the European Union's directive on this restriction of hazardous substances.

RoHS FAQs

Mouser Information

Mouser, the distributor to count on.

It is the policy of Mouser Electronics to identify and offer products to the customer as RoHS Compliant, RoHS Exempt, and/ or RoHS Not Applicable, only after specific requirements have been met. Mouser defines the terms as:

• "RoHS: Compliant" per producer documentation. The manufacturer has declared and documented compliance to EU Directive 2011/65/EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS).
• "RoHS: Compliant by Exemption" per producer documentation. The manufacturer has declared and documented an exemption from compliance to EU Directive 2011/65/EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS).
• "RoHS: Non-Applicable" as declared by Mouser or the manufacturer after determining the product doesn't fall within the scope of either the RoHS or WEEE directives. Examples would be non-powered hand tool, batteries, or monitoring and control equipment (electronic test equipment).

Mouser performs no testing of products and relies solely on the manufacturer of the product for identification of RoHS Compliance. Mouser makes no warranty, certification, or declaration of compliance. All statements by Mouser of RoHS compliance, are based on Manufacturer documentation. Any relevant evidence will be filed with the Vice President of Quality Manager or the Product Operations Director, and maintained for at least 4 years from the date of receipt. Products will not be advertised or offered as RoHS Compliant, RoHS Exempt and/or RoHS Not Applicable, until sufficient evidence is received from the manufacturer, and any in stock or on order inventory has been determined to be such. We will never mix stock.

Directives

RoHS

2015/863 of March 31, 2015, amending Annex II to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the list of restricted substances.

2011/65/EU of January 27, 2003, on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. (RoHS)

Batteries/Accumulators

Commentary

While batteries have always been regulated, the regulations are more rigid now.

Lead and mercury in batteries have long been recognized as an environmental problem. EU Directives date back to 1991. In 2006 the EU has passed the new directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators and repealing Directive 91/157/EEC. This directive replaces the previous directives.

The prohibitions:

1. Without prejudice to Directive 2000/53/EC, Member States shall prohibit the placing on the market of:
   1. all batteries or accumulators, whether or not incorporated into appliances, that contain more than 0,0005 % of mercury by weight; and
   2. portable batteries or accumulators, including those incorporated into appliances, that contain more than 0,002 % of cadmium by weight.
2. The prohibition set out in paragraph 1(a) shall not apply to button cells with a mercury content of no more than 2 % by weight.

This translates to less than 5 PPM (2% on button) of Mercury and less than 20 PPM Cadmium in the total weight of the battery. This doesn't appear to be at the homogenous level as in the RoHS Directive. Also, the battery or battery packaging must have the crossed out wheelie-bin.

The only limitations are use in military and space applications. If implemented on time, it is expected to be law in 2009. The key concept: all batteries will be recycled.

Mouser's Information

Mouser Position

Mouser Electronics has decided that because of the directive's requirement for distributor take-back and the lack of verifiable battery collection schemes by member countries, that Mouser will not distribute batteries into the EU at this time. Batteries at Mouser will be handled the same as we handle EEE for the WEEE directive. Therefore you will see the icon on batteries. This icon will indicate that we will not ship the product to the EU or China. The directive also requires that batteries will not contain hazardous substances as described above and that they will be labeled with the crossed-out wheelie bin. We are still working with battery suppliers to ensure compliance and proper labeling.

Directives

EU Directives and Useful Links

2006/66/EC of September 6, 2006 on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators and repealing Directive 91/157/EEC.

DTI Website on Batteries and Accumulators

REACH - Regulation, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals

REACH is an expansive set of European Union regulations that affects all industries doing business in the EU. It basically puts the responsibility for chemical safety on the manufacturers of those chemicals, and brings the EU under one unified set of regulations. An important objective of these regulations is to encourage, and in certain situations, ensure chemicals of high concern are replaced with less dangerous chemicals or eliminated.

REACH Regulation

Ongoing draft recommendations for substances of very high concern (SVHC)

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on 1/14/09 developed the first draft recommendation of substances of very high concern (SVHC) for inclusion in Annex XIV. There are now over 50 SVHCs and the list keeps growing.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

REACH - Mouser's Position

Mouser Electronics, being a distributor of electronic components, supplies, and equipment, has a limited role in these new regulations. Although electronic components and supplies can be characterized as articles and substances, Mouser is not considered a manufacturer, importer, downstream user, or registrant under Article 3 of REACH. Mouser has no responsibility to register any of the components or supplies we distribute.

Mouser does have the responsibility to communicate SVHC information down the supply chain when provided by the manufacturer, per article 33 of the regulation.

Mouser expects manufacturers to have robust environmental programs that adhere to the requirements of REACH, identify SVHC to Mouser, and provide Mouser with a Safety Data Sheet or other document prescribing the safe handling of their products which contains SVHCs in excess of 0.1% in any of the products homogenous materials. This is not always the case as manufacturers are free to comply or not comply with environmental laws from other countries. Customers wishing to ensure purchased products are free of SVHCs should choose manufacturers that openly and publicly support REACH.

Mouser has made suppliers aware of our above expectations and has asked for web links to their support and commitment to comply with REACH. Mouser has posted these links to the manufacturer's page on our website.

When Mouser is made aware of the presences of SVHC, we will communicate this to our customers, and provide them with a Safety Datasheet as required by article 33 of REACH. Safety Datasheets are meant to instruct the end-user (customer) on safe handling of the product with the SVHC. In most cases the amount will be small and encapsulated in the component. Exposure to the SVHC would require grinding the component up. This is not a normal way of handling the product, and a safety datasheet should reflect this distinction. A Safety Datasheet that describes how to handle a 55 gallon drum of the SVHC is not appropriate.

From Mouser's perspective, REACH is similar to RoHS. Mouser globally distributes a very wide selection of products and suppliers. As with RoHS, not all the products we sell will be REACH compliant at one time. For this reason Mouser, cannot sign a global agreement on REACH Compliance. Customers must take an active role in understanding environmental compliance of product and selecting products accordingly.