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What is ROHS/REACH Compliance?

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The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) 2002/95/EC took effect July 1, 2006. The directive works closely with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) that sets recovery, recycling collection targets intended the solve the problem of huge amounts of toxic electronic waste. 

 

The ROHS directive restricts the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types of electronic and electrical equipment including:

  • Lead (Pb)

  • Mercury (Hg)

  • Cadmium (Cd)

  • Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+)

  • Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)

  • Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)

  • Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)

  • Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP)

  • Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)

  • Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)

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The WEEE directive applies to equipment such as:

  • Large and small household appliances

  • IT Equipment

  • Telecommunications Equipment

  • Consumer Equipment

  • Lighting Equipment

  • Electrical and Electronic Tools

  • Toys, leisure and sports equipment

 

To be compliant a finish cannot contain any of 6 banned materials above. All of technical platings chemistries are ROHS compliant. 

 

REACH is a regulation of the European Union, adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry. The directives apply to a specific set of chemical substances, when they are a component of a product. The important aspect is that the substance must not be released from an article under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use. There are some exceptions, but in nearly all cases, metal finishing qualifies for the articles exemptions due to the fact that the metal coating is an integral part of the item in question.

 

To learn more about ROHS compliance, please see the following:

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