Environmental Legislation

This section of the guidelines provides links to relevant information regarding environmental regulations for electronics (Reach, RoHS, WEEE et al.) in the EU and elsewhere.

EU Environmental Directives

Batterieshttps://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/batteries/index.htm
ELVhttps://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/elv/index.htm
Reachhttps://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_en.htm
RoHS: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/index_en.htm
WEEEhttps://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee/index_en.htm

Reach

Reach directive consolidated version:
EUR-Lex - 02006R1907-20221217 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)

Substances restricted under Reach: 
https://echa.europa.eu/substances-restricted-under-reach

Candidate List of substances of very high concern for Authorisation:
https://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table

Authorisation List:
https://echa.europa.eu/authorisation-list

Reach PFAS restriction proposal

PFAS restriction proposal:
https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/f605d4b5-7c17-7414-8823-b49b9fd43aea

Info webinar: 
https://echa.europa.eu/-/restriction-of-per-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfass-under-reach

Status follow-up: 
https://echa.europa.eu/hot-topics/perfluoroalkyl-chemicals-pfas
https://echa.europa.eu/restrictions-under-consideration/-/substance-rev/72301/term

Where are PFAS?: https://pfas.chemsec.org/

RoHS

RoHS directive consolidated version with up-to-date exemption list:
EUR-Lex - 02011L0065-20230901 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)

RoHS 3 (English)

Commision delegated directive (EU) 2015/863/EU of 31 March 2015 amending Annex II to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the list of restricted substances. 

RoHS 2/RoHS recast (English)

Directive 2011/65/EU of the European parliament and of the council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (recast).

RoHS directive (English)

Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

RoHS directive (Dutch)

Richtlijn 2002/95/EG betreffende beperking van het gebruik van bepaalde gevaarlijke stoffen in elektrische en elektronische apparatuur.

RoHS in Belgium

Koninklijk besluit inzake het voorkomen van gevaarlijke stoffen in elektrische en elektronische apparatuur – 12 oktober 2004
 

"Non-EU RoHS" legislation

California

California’s Restriction on the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Some Electronic Devices
Electronic Hazardous Waste website of California Department of Toxic Substances Control.

China

WARNING: These documents are unofficial translations from Chinese and are only of informative nature
China RoHS: Administrative Measures on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products.
China RoHS: Management Methods for controlling Pollution by Electronic Information Products – Ministry of Information Industry Order #39
China RoHS: Electronic Information Products Classification and Explanations
Standard GB18455-2001: Packaging Recycling Marks
Standard SJ/11363-2006: Requirements for Concentration Limits for Certain Hazardous Substances in Electronic Information Products.
Standard SJ/T11364-2006: Marking for Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products.
Standard SJ/******-Draft: Testing Methods for Regulated Substances in Electronic Information Products.

Korea

Act for Resource Recycling of Electrical and Electronic Equipment en Vehicles

Japan

Law for Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources
Japan Marking Regulations on Hazardous Substances

Norway

Prohibition of certain Hazardous Substances in consumer products (PoHS)
 

WEEE

WEEE directive consolidated version:
EUR-Lex - 02012L0019-20180704 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)

Belgian WEEE collection and processing agency: Recupel

European and WW collection agencies: the WEEE forum members.

To find the EU member state WEEE authorities.