Twenty nine exemptions for public consultation

In the course of a new RoHS project (Pack 9) for the evaluation of applications for exemptions, to be included in or deleted from Annexes III of the RoHS Directive Recast 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2), twenty nine exemptions for which renewal/amendment requests have been submitted will be evaluated. On 21 August 2015, the proposals for 29 exemptions formally entered into the public consultation, which will continue eight weeks till 16 October 2015.
 

	Exemption	Date for exemption
1(a-e)	Mercury in single capped (compact) fluorescent lamps not exceeding (per burner)": (a) For general lighting purposes < 30 W: 5 mg (b) For general lighting purposes ≥ 30 W and < 50 W: 5 mg (c) For general lighting purposes ≥ 50 W and < 150 W: 5 mg (d) For general lighting purposes ≥ 150 W: 15 mg (e) For general lighting purposes with circular or square structural shape and tube diameter ≤ 17 mm	(a) 2,5 mg may be used after 31.12.2012 (b) 3,5 mg may be used after 31.12.2011 (e) 7 mg may be used after 31.12.2011
1(f)	Mercury in single capped (compact) fluorescent lamps not exceeding (per burner):  (f) For special purposes: 5 mg
2(a)(1-5)	Mercury in double-capped linear fluorescent lamps for general lighting purposes not exceeding (per lamp): (1) Tri-band phosphor with normal lifetime and a tube diameter < 9 mm (e.g. T2): 5 mg (2) Tri-band phosphor with normal lifetime and a tube diameter ≥ 9 mm and ≤ 17 mm (e.g. T5): 5 mg (3) Tri-band phosphor with normal lifetime and a tube diameter > 17 mm and ≤ 28 mm (e.g. T8): 5 mg (4) Tri-band phosphor with normal lifetime and a tube diameter > 28 mm (e.g. T12): 5 mg (5) Tri-band phosphor with long lifetime (≥ 25 000 h): 8 mg	(1) 4 mg may be used after 31.12.2011 (2) 3 mg may be used after 31.12.2011 (3) 3,5 mg may be used after 31.12.2011 (4) 3,5 mg may be used after 31.12.2011 (5) 5 mg may be used after 31.12.2011
2(b)(3)	Mercury in other fluorescent lamps not exceeding (per lamp): (3) Non-linear tri-band phosphor lamps with tube diameter > 15 mm (e.g. T9)	15 mg may be used after 31.12.2011
2(b)(4)	Mercury in other fluorescent lamps not exceeding (per lamp): (4) Lamps for other general lighting and special purposes (e.g. induction lamps): 15 mg per lamp	15 mg may be used after 31.12.2011
3(a-c)	Mercury in cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode fluorescent lamps (CCFL and EEFL) for special purposes not exceeding (per lamp): (a) Short length (≤ 500 mm): 3.5 mg per lamp (b) Medium length (> 500 mm and ≤ 1 500 mm): 5 mg per lamp (c) Long length (> 1 500 mm): 13 mg per lamp	(a) 3,5 mg may be used after 31.12.2011 (b) 5 mg may be used after 31.12.2011 (c) 13 mg may be used after 31.12.2011
4(a)	Mercury in other low pressure discharge lamps (per lamp): 15 mg per lamp	15 mg may be used after 31.12.2011
4(b)(I-III)	Mercury in High Pressure Sodium (vapour) lamps for general lighting purposes not exceeding (per burner) in lamps with improved colour rendering index Ra > 60: I) P ≤ 155 W: 30 mg per burner II) 155 W < P ≤ 405 W: 40 mg per burner III) P > 405 W: 40 mg per burner	I) 30 mg may be used after 31.12.2011 II) 40 mg may be used after 31.12.2011 III) 40 mg may be used after 31.12.2011
4(c)(I-III)	Mercury in other High Pressure Sodium (vapour) lamps for general lighting purposes not exceeding (per burner): I) P ≤ 155 W: 25 mg per burner II) 155 W < P ≤ 405 W: 30 mg per burner III) P > 405 W: 40 mg per burner	I) 25 mg may be used after 31.12.2011 II) 30 mg may be used after 31.12.2011 III) 40 mg may be used after 31.12.2011
4(e)	Mercury in metal halide lamps (MH)
4(f)	Mercury in other discharge lamps for special purposes not specifically mentioned in this Annex
5(b)	Lead in glass of fluorescent tubes not exceeding 0,2 % by weight
6(a)	Lead as an alloying element in steel for machining purposes and in galvanised steel containing up to 0,35 % lead by weight
6(b)	Lead as an alloying element in aluminium containing up to 0,4 % lead by weight
6(c)	Copper alloy containing up to 4 % lead by weight
7(a)	Lead in high melting temperature type solders (i.e. lead- based alloys containing 85 % by weight or more lead)
7(c)-I	Electrical and electronic components containing lead in a glass or ceramic other than dielectric ceramic in capacitors, e.g. piezoelectronic devices, or in a glass or ceramic matrix compound
7(c)-II	Lead in dielectric ceramic in capacitors for a rated voltage of 125 V AC or 250 V DC or higher
7(c)-IV	Lead in PZT based dielectric ceramic materials for capacitors which are part of integrated circuits or discrete semiconductors
8(b)	Cadmium and its compounds in electrical contacts
9	Hexavalent chromium as an anticorrosion agent of the carbon steel cooling system in absorption refrigerators up to 0,75 % by weight in the cooling solution
15	Lead in solders to complete a viable electrical connection between semiconductor die and carrier within integrated circuit flip chip packages
18(b)	Lead as activator in the fluorescent powder (1 % lead by weight or less) of discharge lamps when used as sun tanning lamps containing phosphors such as BSP (BaSi 2 O 5 :Pb)
21	Lead and cadmium in printing inks for the application of enamels on glasses, such as borosilicate and soda lime glasses
24	Lead in solders for the soldering to machined through hole discoidal and planar array ceramic multilayer capacitors
29	Lead bound in crystal glass as defined in Annex I (Categories 1, 2, 3 and 4) of Council Directive 69/493/EEC ( 1 )
32	Lead oxide in seal frit used for making window assemblies for Argon and Krypton laser tubes
34	Lead in cermet-based trimmer potentiometer elements
37	Lead in the plating layer of high voltage diodes on the basis of a zinc borate glass body

 
EU Directive on the restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment covers a wide range of products, including: electronics & electricals, medical device, communication, toys, security protection information, etc. It not only involves finished products, but also spare parts, raw materials and packaging used for manufacture of finished products, extending to the whole manufacture chain. Besides, EU, the United States, Korea, China and the like countries have their own RoHS regulations. Currently, Singapore also drafts its own RoHS and notifies WTO about it. RoHS Directive is of vital importance in electrical & electronics.
 
Reminder: Where the above clauses for exemption are passed, businesses will have longer time for compliance of RoHS Directive. However, once denied, transitional period for exemptions will expire and products shall be requested to comply with RoHS 2.0 Directive immediately which may materially affect businesses. So it is advisable relevant businesses to keep an eye on the news to draft production plans. C&K Testing continues to focus on relevant news and communicate the latest information with you.