Restricted Substances: RoHS 2 for Electronics
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Restricted substances are the chemicals you legally cannot exceed in electronics — under RoHS 2 (2011/65/EU) that's ten: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, and four phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP). Limits are 0.1% by weight per homogeneous material (0.01% for cadmium), which means each plating, solder, plastic, and coating in a China-built product is assessed separately.
When you source, ask for RoHS test reports at the homogeneous-material level for the actual BOM, not a single product-level certificate — the phthalates added in RoHS 2 trip up older suppliers who only tested for the original six substances. The common pitfall is accepting an outdated or generic declaration; some exemptions exist (for example certain solders) but they're specific and time-limited.
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FAQ
How many substances does RoHS 2 restrict?
Ten: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB, and PBDE, plus the four phthalates DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP added under the 2015 amendment. Each is capped at 0.1% by weight (0.01% for cadmium) per homogeneous material.
How do I verify a Chinese supplier's RoHS compliance?
Request recent third-party test reports (XRF screening plus wet-chemistry for borderline materials) tied to your specific parts. A generic factory statement without lab data is not sufficient evidence for the technical file.
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