There is a change on the horizon for manufacturers used to complying with RoHS based on the restriction of the six substances indicated in RoHS 2011/65/EU (Annex II):
- Lead (0.1%)
- Mercury (0.1%)
- Cadmium (0.01%)
- Hexavalent chromium (0.1%)
- Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) (0.1%)
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) (0.1%)
The change is Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2015/863 published in the Official Journal of the European Union on March 31, 2015.
This new Directive makes the following change to the above list of restricted substances by adding four new substances:
- Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) (0.1%)
- Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) (0.1%)
- Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) (0.1%)
- Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) (0.1%)
The Directive is very short, only three pages, and below are three notable sections.
- Article 2 – 2015/863 is applicable to all RoHS products effective July 22, 2019
- Annex II – medical devices, including in vitro medical devices, and monitoring and control instruments, including industrial monitoring and control instruments are exempted from these new restrictions until July 22, 20121
- Annex II – some of the substance restrictions indicated in 2015/863 are current substance restrictions applicable to toys per the REACH Regulation 1907/2006.
Finally, note that Article 2 of the new Directive requires that all EU Member States adopt this Directive and publish “…laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive.”
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