RoHS Directive

RoHS is EU Directive 2011/65/EU restricting the use of specific hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

What is RoHS?

RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. It concerns EU Directive 2011/65/EU—also known as RoHS 2—that restricts the use of specific hazardous substances found in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). The directive was originally adopted in 2003 (RoHS 1) and came into effect in July 2006, with RoHS 2 replacing and updating it in January 2013.

The growing production and use of electrical and electronic devices—including mobile phones, computers, and household appliances—has led to a significant increase in electronic waste. During their use and eventual disposal, these products can release hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, posing serious risks to human health and the environment. To tackle these concerns, the European Union has introduced the RoHS Directive, which limits the use of specific dangerous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

In summary, the main objectives of RoHS are:

Protect human health and the environment by limiting the use of harmful substances in electronic products.
Encourage recycling and environmentally responsible disposal of electronic waste (e-waste).
Harmonize environmental standards across the EU to support the free circulation of goods.

Revision of the original directive

Over the years, the RoHS Directive has been revised multiple times, each update progressively strengthening and expanding its scope.

RoHS 1 refers to the original Directive 2002/95/EC - originated in the European Union in 2002 and restricts the use of six hazardous. All applicable electrical and electronic products in the EU market must pass RoHS compliance since July 1, 2006.
RoHS 2 refers to Directive 2011/65/EU that replaced RoHS 1 and came into force in 2011. CE marking became mandatory, in this way RoHS compliance became part of the CE conformity process. The scope of the directive was also expanded, gradually bringing all electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) under RoHS, unless specifically exempted. RoHS 2 also ensured better alignment with other EU legislation, such as the REACH Regulation. Despite these structural changes, the list of restricted substances remained the same as under RoHS 1, covering six hazardous materials.
RoHS 3 refers to amendment 2015/863 to Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2). RoHS 3 added four additional substances to the existing list, making a total of 10 restricted substances.

Which substances are restricted?

RoHS currently restricts the following 10 hazardous substances:

Substance	Maximum Allowable Concentration
Lead (Pb)	0.1%
Mercury (Hg)	0.1%
Cadmium (Cd)	0.01%
Hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺)	0.1%
Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)	0.1%
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)	0.1%
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)	0.1%
Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)	0.1%
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)	0.1%
Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)	0.1%

These limits apply to each homogeneous material in a product, not to the overall product weight.

RoHS compliance and CE marking

RoHS applies to manufacturers, importers, and distributors of electrical and electronic equipment sold within the European Economic Area (EEA).
It covers a wide range of products, including:

- Consumer electronics (TVs, smartphones, laptops)

- Household appliances (refrigerators, microwaves)

- Lighting equipment

- Power tools

- Medical devices (with phased compliance)

- Monitoring and control instruments

Furthermore, RoHS compliance is required to obtain the CE marking, which is mandatory for selling products in the EU. Non-compliance may result in product recalls, financial penalties, and restrictions on market access. To comply with the RoHS Directive, companies are required to take several important steps. They must conduct risk assessments and prepare detailed technical documentation demonstrating compliance. Additionally, they need to issue a Declaration of Conformity and ensure that their entire supply chain meets RoHS requirements.

Beyond compliance, RoHS also contributes significantly to sustainability and supports the objectives of the European Green Deal. It plays a key role in promoting a circular economy by helping to reduce environmental pollution caused by electronic waste, encouraging the use of safer materials, and driving eco-friendly product design and innovation across the electronics industry.

We ensure that none of the restricted substances are intentionally used in the manufacturing or packaging of our products.

All Sentera products are compliant to EU RoHS 3 directive 2015/863/EU.

What is the difference with REACH?

While REACH and RoHS are both regulations from the European Union focussing on chemical safety, they have different scopes, objectives, and applications.

The key differences between both regulations are summarised below:

REACH	RoHS
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals	Restriction of Hazardous Substances
EU Regulation (EC No. 1907/2006)	EU Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2)
Protect human health and the environment from all chemical risks	Limit hazardous substances specifically in electrical and electronic equipment
All chemical substances including those in products (articles), mixtures, and raw materials	Only electrical and electronic equipment
Applies to all industries using or placing substances on the EU market (e.g. manufacturers, importers, downstream users)	Applies to manufacturers, importers, and distributors of electronics
Thousands of substances; SVHCs (Substances of Very High Concern) are closely monitored	10 specific hazardous substances (like lead, cadmium, mercury, phthalates, etc.)
Registration, evaluation by ECHA, possible authorisation or restriction	Mandatory compliance for CE marking; testing and documentation required
Focus on substance safety and usage across the product life cycle	Focus on material content limits in finished electrical and electronic equipment products
Not directly linked to CE marking	CE marking required for RoHS compliance

REACH is broader and applies to almost all products and industries. It regulates the use and handling of chemicals throughout their lifecycle.
RoHS, on the other hand, is narrower in scope, focusing on limiting specific hazardous substances in electronic products to reduce environmental impact and health risks.

RoHS does not affect the application of REACH, and vice versa, with regard to the restriction of substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).
When overlaps occur, the strongest restriction (i.e. the lowest maximum concentration) should be applied. Furthermore, exemptions from the substance restrictions in RoHS may not be granted if they result in a weakening of the environmental and human health protection afforded by REACH.

Sentera
Environmental protection and resource preservation have always been central to Sentera’s corporate policy as an innovative leader in HVAC control solutions. We are committed to designing eco-friendly products and using environmentally sustainable production processes.

Sentera strictly complies with all legal directives on occupational safety and environmental protection throughout manufacturing. Our advanced products are designed to pose no health risks when used as intended and to minimize environmental impact.

All Sentera products are compliant to EU REACH regulation 1907/2006/EU and EU RoHS 3 directive 2015/863/EU.