New ROHS Proposals Seek to Change Scope

Electronics Design News (9/17, Nevison) – Following discussions between EU Member States and the Council of Ministers, new proposals have been put forward by Sweden, which currently owns the EU presidency, to amend the scope of the ROHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive. Under the proposals the scope will change to encompass all electrical and electronic equipment unless specifically excluded. There are new exclusions from the ROHS text such as large-scale stationary industrial tools (LSIT), but the impact of the revised proposals is clearly to include products that are not currently in scope. It is also proposed to delete Annex III that lists four substances - BBP, DBP, DEHP, and HBCDD for priority assessment, leading to possible restrictions.