EU Publishes Latest Update to RoHS Directive

The RoHs directive restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment which can be substituted by safer alternatives. The RoHS Directive currently restricts the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in manufacturing of electrical and electronic equipment sold in the European Union. It also restricts four phthalates: bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate and diisobutyl phthalate, where the restriction applies to medical devices, monitoring and control instruments. These requirements "shall not apply to the applications listed in Annexes III and IV" (Article 4).