Changes to the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
regulations mean that products that were out of scope of the 2008
regulations will now be included and will prohibit non-compliant
products from being placed on the market.
The changes also include the introduction of four particular
phthalates* (chemicals used to soften PVC), and will prohibit any
products containing these substances being placed on the market
from 22 July 2019.
This will affect all electronic and electrical equipment except
for medical devices and monitoring and control instruments, which
are exempted until 22 July 2021. The restriction will not apply
to spare parts or cables used for the repair, reuse, updating or
upgrading of capacity of EEE placed on the market before 22 July
2019, and to medical devices and monitoring and control
instruments placed on the market before 22 July 2021.
The restrictions within the RoHS regulations are applied at the
point products are ‘placed on the market’ which, in most cases,
involves importers and manufacturers - it is illegal to place
products on the market that are non-compliant.
If the product is received by a retailer before the change date
it will not be subject to regulation. This would have to be
readily demonstrated to the market surveillance authority (the
Office for Product Safety and Standards) on a regular basis, with
invoices and delivery notes etc.
Anyone placing non-compliant products on the market after 22 July
2019, knowing they are non-compliant, will be liable to
prosecution under the regulations. If you require more
information email OPSS.enquires@beis.gov.uk or
call 0121 345 1201.
*The chemicals are butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl)
phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and diisobutyl
phthalate (DIBP). It should be noted that the restrictions do not
apply to all phthalates.
