The RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive aims to limit the use of specific hazardous materials commonly used in the manufacturing of electronic and electrical equipment. Often referred to as the "lead-free directive," RoHS restricts the use of six substances that can be harmful to both the environment and human health.

The six restricted substances under RoHS include:

• Lead (Pb)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+)
• Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)
• Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)

When is the RoHS Directive Enforced?

As of July 1, 2006, all electronic and electrical products placed on the European market must comply with EU Directive 2002/95/EC. There are no exceptions for pre-existing inventory, so manufacturers must ensure their products are compliant with the RoHS directive before the deadline of July 1, 2006.

RoHS Compliance Status in the UK

According to Chris Smith from the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML), which oversees RoHS enforcement in the UK, 99% of products examined are compliant with the RoHS requirements. Most non-compliant companies have become compliant after undergoing RoHS training. Very few companies have needed legal action to ensure compliance.

Common issues identified during compliance checks include higher-than-permitted levels of hexavalent chromium and lead in plastic components. NWML uses a combination of documentation reviews and metal analyzers to verify compliance.