Environmental compliance became a serious issue when the electronic wastes began to cause harmful effects on the health and environment. rohs (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive is one of the laws that were adopted by the European Union, with an aim to control such hazards. Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, together with the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive, forms the European Law. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive focuses on the restriction of certain harmful substances for the manufacturing of the electrical and electronic equipment.
The products manufactured in the member states of the European Union are bound to be RoHS compliant. These are tested for the presence of the restricted chemicals or substances, which include, lead, cadmium, polybrominated biphenyls and diphenyl ether, mercury and hexavalent chromium. Since lead is the most important among the restricted ones, the directive is also sometimes called as lead free directive. The principles of the directive suggest that the manufacturers or the producers themselves should the responsible to see that their products do not use harmful substances. These substances are equally harmful for the customers, as well as, for those who are employed in the manufacturing process.
Though the rule is strict, certain substances are also manufactured which are either partially or wholly exempted from abiding by the restrictions of the RoHS directive. They include certain metal parts, solders, paints and pigments, batteries and PVCs, which have lead as one of their ingredients. Mercury can also be found in certain switches in the automobiles, and the fluorescent lamps.
