RoHS and WEEE
Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (ROHS) Directive and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive.
If you manufacture, sell, distribute or recycle electrical and electronic equipment containing lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls or polybrominated diphenyl ethers, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (ROHS) Directive may apply.
The WEEE and RoHS Directives impose a number of challenges on the electronics industry.
WEEE requires the recovery and recycling of electrical equipment and RoHS imposes the removal of lead (including leaded solder), mercury, hexavalent chromium, cadmium and two flame retardants from new electrical equipment sold after 1st July 2006.
This means that to comply you must be sure that your products are checked. The limits apply to each component part of the product, for example solder is regarded as a different component to the pieces it joins.
The percentages are: -
| Lead | less than 0.1% |
| Mercury | less than 0.1% |
| Chrome (VI) | less than 0.1% |
| Cadmium | less than 0.01% |
| Flame-retardants* | less than 0.1% |
(*These include Polybrominated biphenyls – PBB's, and Polybrominated diphenyl ethers – PBDE's)
In conjunction with Envirowise recommendations the presence of these can be checked using a low cost XRF screening technique.
If evidence is found then further in depth analyses can be applied.
Please contact us to discuss the products, methods and the range of charges for testing.
We are available to discuss and develop a strategy to help you comply with the Directive.
Battery Testing
Sheffield Assay Office Analytical Services has developed a method for the testing of batteries for Cadmium, Mercury and other metals as required.
The National Measurement office (NMO) is the UK Enforcement Authority for the Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2008. These Regulations implement the placing on the market obligations of the EU directive 91/157/EEC (2006/66/EC) which came into force on 26 September 2008.
The Regulations include a ban on the placing on the EU market of new batteries containing more than agreed levels of Cadmium and Mercury.
Prohibitions on Mercury and Cadmium
No person shall place on the market -
- A battery that contains more than 0.0005% (5ppm) of Mercury by weight*.
- A portable battery that contains more than 0.002% (20ppm) of Cadmium by weight.
Lead - there is currently no restriction on Lead but the battery MUST clearly display the crossed out wheelie bin symbol and be clearly marked 'Pb'.
Further information is available at http:/www.rohs.gov.uk/batteries and a list of the exemptions to the restrictions can be found in Statutory Instrument 2008 No.2164.
Enquiries and Technical queries -
Tel : 0114 231 2121
