ROHS Certification
What is RoHS Certification?
RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. RoHS, often known as Directive 2002/95/E, originated from the European Union. It was established to limit the use of specific hazardous materials in electrical and electronic devices. All goods sold in the European Union after July 1, 2006 must comply with RoHS requirements. The RoHS directive establishes guidelines for the use of hazardous chemicals in the production of electrical and electronic products. It gives manufacturers and suppliers rules for reusing and recycling electrical and electronic waste. RoHS standard specifies maximum levels for the following hazardous materials:
- Lead (Pb): < 1000 ppm
- Mercury (Hg): < 100 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): < 100 ppm
- Hexavalent Chromium: (Cr VI) < 1000 ppm
- Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB): < 1000 ppm
- Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE): < 1000 ppm
- Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP): < 1000 ppm
- Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP): < 1000 ppm
- Dibutyl phthalate (DBP): < 1000 ppm
- Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP): < 1000 ppm
These hazardous materials are dangerous to the environment and pollute landfills, and are also harmful in terms of occupational exposure during production and recycling.
What does it mean to be RoHS Certified?
RoHS certification means that a manufacturer or supplier has been approved by an independent third party to manufacture products which meet the RoHS standard. The RoHS standard defines specific guidelines for manufacturing, packaging, labeling and storage of a product in order to reduce contamination from hazardous substances. An organization that obtains RoHS certification ensures proper implemention of these standards in an effective manner.
What materials can be RoHS certified?
Almost all products which contain metal, plastic, or some sort of electronic circuitry can be RoHS compliant. RoHS certification does not apply to components such as batteries and non-electronic accessories like screws and cables, which do not contain hazardous chemicals. The following is a list of products that either require or are exempted from RoHS certification.
Items compliant for RoHS certification:
- Large household appliances
- Small household appliances
- Computers and communication equipment
- Consumer electronics
- Lighting
- Power tools
- Toys and sports equipment
- Automatic dispensers: vending machines, ATM machines.
Items exempted from RoHS Certification:
- Medical devices and equipment
- Control and monitoring equipment
- National security use and military equipment
- Large stationary industrial tools
- Certain light bulbs and some batteries
- Spare parts for electronic equipment in the market before July 1, 2006
What Organizations require RoHS Certification?
RoHS certification is required for exporting, manufacturing and importing goods in RoHS compliant regions, such as Asian nations (including China, Japan, and South Korea) as well as versions of it in North America. RoHS certification is especially essential for companies involved with RoHS compliant or RoHS parallel importing. RoHS compliance requirements also apply to all product suppliers, including original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), original design manufacturers (ODMs) and subcontractors.
IAS provides a very simple yet efficient ROHS certification process to help your organization achieve ROHS Certification in a timely manner!
What are the Benefits of RoHS Certification?
RoHS certification can be an important part of your product’s marketing strategy. Products that undergo RoHS certification are extremely popular among environmentally-conscious consumers, who are willing to pay a premium price to protect the environment. RoHS certification is becoming more and more relevant for manufacturers, distributors, resellers and retailers who wish to keep up with their competitors or set themselves apart from their competitors. The following are advantages of RoHS certification:
- Helps to avoid expenditures for removing hazardous chemicals from production processes, assembly and storage locations.
- Noncompliance may result in hefty penalties imposed by the European Union’s RoHS governing body, including fines of up to €1 million or 2% of annual turnover.
- The EPA and OSHA have begun enforcing environmental laws that demand RoHS certification.
- Improved production efficiency as a result of tighter process control, fewer defects, and boosted production output.
- Many communities and states are considering more stringent recycling or disposal regulations for electronic components, so it is in the manufacturer’s best interests to be prepared to implement a recycling program as required by law.
Once you successfully achieve RoHS Certification through IAS, you can check the status of your certificate by visiting our ROHS Certification Search Page!
What is the RoHS Certification Process?
The following are steps required to obtain RoHS Certification through IAS:
- Fill out the IAS application with all of the information regarding the product you’d like to apply for RoHS certification.
- A quotation will be emailed to you after your approval.
- IAS will provide you with a project management plan for your RoHS certification after the quotation is accepted (including test plans and test specifications). However, based on your needs, the management strategy may differ slightly.
- The actual tests are carried out under IAS supervision or at a recognised laboratory.
- All data will be put into a RoHS certification report, together with the corresponding certificate and samples of non-RoHS compliant material, once testing is completed. These testing reports are also supplied to you as backup records or for future reference.
- Unless the product and/or its components are difficult to test, RoHS certification takes roughly 15-20 working days.
Click here to learn more about our RoHS Certification procedure! Also, see the ROHS Certification frequently asked questions page to learn more.
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