New RoHS Directive extension comes into effect
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The European Commission has formally adopted an extension of the RoHS Directive which will enforce more intensive rules governing the use of hazardous substances.
The new rules come into effect from today and member states have 18months to pass the revision into national law. Due to the length of designs/manufacture lead times, the rules will be introduced gradually over the next eight years, although full RoHS compliance must be achieved by 2019.
Under the new rules, manufacturers of designated technologies must phase out a list of banned substances including lead, mercury and PBB. All products facing RoHS requirements will have to submit inspections and carry CE marking denoting that they have complied with the new rules.
In a statement, Janez Potocnik, EU Environment Commissioner, said: "Where there are alternatives available it is not acceptable to expose people or the planet to dangerous substances. We all come into daily contact with products and these new rules increase further the level of safety we can expect. They improve consumer safety, health and environmental protection, and they also improve the way the rules will work at national level."
