Isra-Mart srl: EU intensifies crackdown on hazardous electronics

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Thousands more electronic devices are to face stringent new rules governing their use of hazardous substances, after the European Commission today formally adopted an extension to the Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive.

The original RoHS came into effect in 2003 and required manufacturers of electronic equipment to meet strict limits on the use of heavy metals and dangerous chemicals.

The rules have forced global electronics manufacturers to significantly improve the design of their products by gradually phasing out the use of dangerous metals and chemicals, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl (PBD) ethers - all of which have been widely blamed for polluting water sources and soils and damaging health.

However, green groups have long argued the RoHS was too narrowly focused on IT equipment and household appliances, and as a result the EU moved in 2008 to revise the directive to cover a wider range of electronic devices and equipment, including thermostats, medical devices, control panels, cables, and spare parts.

The new rules were agreed between the European Parliament and the European Council last year and formally come into effect from today, giving Member States 18 months to pass the revised directive into national law.

Under the new rules, manufacturers of designated technologies will have to phase out a list of banned substances, including lead, mercury and PBB.

The relatively long lead time it takes to design and manufacture new electronic devices means the rules will be introduced gradually over the next eight years, although under the directive full RoHS compliance will have to be achieved by 2019.

A number of technologies, including solar panels, have been granted exemptions from the rules on the grounds that there is currently no "satifactory alternative" to using hazardous substances.

However, the list of exempted technologies will be reviewed in July 2014, while the list of hazardous substances will also be periodically reviewed and extended.

Under the revised directive, all products facing RoHS requirements will have to submit to inspections and carry CE marking denoting that they have complied with the rules.

EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik issued a statement declaring that there was no excuse for manufacturers not to comply with the new rules.

"Where there are alternatives available it is not acceptable to expose people or the planet to dangerous substances," he said. "We all come into daily contact with products and these new rules increase further the level of safety we can expect. They improve consumer safety, health and environmental protection, and they also improve the way the rules will work at national level."