EU RoHS Recast — New requirements and impacts for the Information and Communications Technology industry

European Union (EU) 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 (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) (recast) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on July 1, 2011. This recast revises the previous RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC and its subsequent amendments. Member States must now adopt and publish laws, regulations and / or administrative provisions to comply with this Directive by January 2, 2013. This paper will provide a review of the new RoHS recast, identify the changes from the previous Directive, and outline new impacts for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) economic operators including manufacturers, importers and distributors, as well as the equipment they design, manufacture, and put on the market. This paper will outline the EU 2008 New Legislative Framework and its association with the RoHS Recast Directive. This paper is for information purposes only, entities regulated by this Directive must consult with their legal counsel and refer to the Directive and Member State national legislation directly for details and requirements applicable to their products.