RoHS
RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) is the EU directive that restricts the use of specific hazardous materials in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) — including lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, certain brominated flame retardants (PBB, PBDE) and phthalates — each capped at a maximum concentration by weight in homogeneous materials.
For electronics, RoHS compliance is part of CE marking: an EEE product must meet RoHS to carry the CE mark and be sold in the EU. It is closely related to REACH but narrower — RoHS targets named substances in electronics, while REACH governs chemicals across all products. Many non-EU markets have adopted RoHS-style rules, so it is often designed in globally.
RoHS is the substance-restriction gate for selling electronics in the EU — no RoHS compliance, no CE mark, no market. Because it caps named substances at the material level, it drives component sourcing and supplier declarations deep into the electronics supply chain.
How is RoHS different from REACH?
RoHS restricts named hazardous substances specifically in electrical and electronic equipment; REACH governs chemical substances across all products more broadly.
Is RoHS part of CE marking?
For electrical and electronic equipment, yes — RoHS compliance is required to affix the CE mark and sell the product in the EU.