Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS)

The amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) generated every year in the EU is increasing rapidly. It is now one of the fastest growing waste streams.

Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) contains hazardous substances. Since 2003, EU laws have restricted the use of these hazardous substances.

The rise in the production and use of electrical and electronic products, such as mobile phones, computers and kitchen appliances, has resulted in an increasing volume of electrical and electronic waste. During the use, collection, treatment and disposal of such waste, products may release harmful (hazardous) substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium, which can cause major environmental and health problems.

To address such challenges, EU laws restrict the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment through the RoHS Directive. In parallel, the WEEE Directive promotes the collection and recycling of such equipment.

The RoHS Directive currently restricts the use of ten substances: lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP).

All products with an electrical and electronic component, unless specifically excluded, have to comply with these restrictions.

In 2017, the Commission adopted a legislative proposal adjusting the scope of the RoHS Directive.

The RoHS Directive aims to prevent the risks posed to human health and the environment related to the management of electronic and electrical waste.

It does this by restricting the use of certain hazardous substances in EEE that can be substituted by safer alternatives. These restricted substances include heavy metals, flame retardants or plasticizers.

The Directive promotes the recyclability of EEE, as EEE and its components that have become waste contain fewer hazardous substances. At the same time, it ensures a level playing field for manufacturers and importers of EEE in the European market.

• RoHS Directive
• 2017 Directive amending RoHS Directive

Delegated Directives amending RoHS Annexes

Restricted substances (Annex II)

• Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2015/863 of 31 March 2015

Exemptions (Annex III and IV)

• RoHS Directive (consolidated version)
• Exemption 48 IV - Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2022/1631
• Exemption 27 IV - Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2022/1632

• RoHS mercury exemption 1 (a)-(e) – compact fluorescent lamps for general purposes
• RoHS mercury exemption 1(f) - compact fluorescent lamps for special purposes
• RoHS mercury exemption 1(g) -  compact fluorescent lamps for general purposes with a lifetime equal/above 20 000
• RoHS mercury exemption 2(a) (1)-(5) - linear fluorescent lamps for general lighting purposes
• RoHS mercury exemption 2(b)(3) - linear tri-band phosphor lamps
• RoHS mercury exemption 2(b)(4) - fluorescent lamps for other general lighting and special purposes 
• RoHS mercury exemption 3(a)-(c) - cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode fluorescent lamps for special purposes
• RoHS mercury exemption 4 (a) - other low pressure discharge lamps
• RoHS mercury exemption 4(b) -  high pressure sodium (vapour) lamps with improved colour rendering index
• RoHS mercury exemption 4(c) I-III - other high pressure sodium lamps for general lighting purposes
• RoHS mercury exemption 4 (e) - metal halide lamps
• RoHS mercury exemption 4 (f) - other discharge lamps for special purposes

• New exemption 47 Annex IV – Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2021/1978 of 11 August 2021
• New exemption 46 in Annex IV – Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2021/1979 of 11 August 2021  
• New exemption 45 Annex IV – Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2021/1980 of 11 August 2021
• Renewal exemption 42 Annex IV- Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2021/884 of 8 March 2021
• New exemption 45 Annex III – Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2021/647 of 15 January 2021
• 5 Commission Delegated Directives (EU) 2020/360, 2020/361 and 2020/364 to 2020/366 of 17 December 2019
• 2 Commission Delegated Directives (EU) 2019/1845 and (EU) 2019/1846 of 8 August 2019
• 10 Commission Delegated Directives (EU) 2019/169 to (EU) 2019/178 of 16 November 2018
• 4 Commission Delegated Directives (EU) 2018/739 to (EU) 2018/742 of 1 March 2018
• 3 Commission Delegated Directives (EU) 2018/736 to (EU) 2018/738 of 27 February 2018
• 1 Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/1975 of August 2017, to be read in conjunction with the Corrigendum
• 3 Commission Delegated Directives (EU) 2017/1009 to (EU) 2017/1011 of March 2017
• 2 Commission Delegated Directives (EU) 2016/1028 to (EU) 2016/1029 of 19 April 2016
• Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2016/585 of 12 February 2016
• 2 Commission Delegated Directives (EU) 2015/573 to (EU) 2015/574 of 30 January 2015
• 8 Commission Delegated Directives 2014/69/EU to 2014/76/EU of 13 March 2014
• 16 Commission Delegated Directives 2014/1/EU to 2014/16/EU of 18 October 2013
• 2 Commission Delegated Directives 2012/50/EU to 2012/51/EU of 10 October 2012

Information about the implementation of the RoHS Directive, including the exemption procedure, timeframe and assessment studies. 

Key dates related to the RoHS Directive

On the RoHS 2 review

• The Commission carried out a review of the 2011/65/EU RoHS Directive. Two studies supported the review process: the first study, published in March 2021, gathered data on the question whether the Directive is still fit for purpose. The second study, published in March 2023, explored potential options and their impacts as well as supplemented the findings from the first study. Stakeholders were consulted via open public and targeted consultations.
• Support for the evaluation of Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
• Study to support the assessment of impacts associated with the general review of Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS Directive)
• As a result of this review, the Commission published on 7 December 2023 a review report according to Art.24(2) of that Directive accompanied with a staff working document on the evaluation.
• Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the review of the Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment 
• Commission staff working document on the evaluation of Directive 2011/65/EU
• Under the horizontal initiative ‘one substance, one assessment’, it is proposed to re-attribute scientific and technical tasks under the RoHS Directive to the European Chemicals Agency.
• Proposal for a Directive on the re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks to the European Chemicals Agency

On the RoHS 2 scope review

• Report - Measures to be implemented and additional impact assessment with regard to scope changes, pursuant to the new RoHS Directive
• Report - Additional Input to the Commission Impact Assessment for a Review of the Scope Provisions of the RoHS Directive Pursuant to Article 24(1)
• Study for the analysis of impacts from RoHS2 on non-road mobile machinery without an on-board power source, on windows and doors with electric functions, and on the refurbishment of medical devices

On the review of the list of restricted substances

• Study to support the review of the list of restricted substances and to assess a new exemption request under RoHS 2 (Pack 15)
  The information and views set out in this study are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Commission. The recommendations provided in this study do not preclude future decisions to be taken by the Commission.
• Study for the review of the list of restricted substances under RoHS2
• Study for the review of the list of restricted substances under RoHS 2 - analysis of impacts from a possible restriction of several new substances under RoHS 2

On the RoHS 1 review

• Study for the simplification for RoHS/WEEE
• Report - Adaptation to scientific and technical progress under Directive 2002/95/
• Study to support the impact assessment of the RoHS review
• Review of the first RoHS Directive Categories 8 and 9

Earlier studies

• Study on Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Not Regulated by the RoHS Directive
• Report - Review on production processes of decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) used in polymeric applications in EEE, and assessment of the availability of potential alternatives to DecaBDE)

Main law: RoHS Directive

Entry into force: 21 July 2011

Related topics:  Chemicals Circular economy Waste and recycling WEEE

Related strategies: Chemicals strategy for sustainability Circular Economy Action Plan

Related Commission priorities: European Green Deal

For questions about EU environmental policy, please contact Europe Direct.

For questions on RoHS implementation or enforcement, please contact Member States authorities.

To purchase European Standards, contact the national members of the European Standardization Organisations.