The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive (2002/95/EC) is a European Union Directive that requires producers of Electronic Equipment to reduce the amount of Hazardous substances in their products and components below certain thresholds by July 1, 2006. After that date, by European laws, specific materials will have to be minimized in all electronic assemblies sold in the European Union.

• Lead (Pb) - Max per homogeneous material = 0.1% of total weight. Lead is commonly found in solders, terminations, printed circuit board coatings, glasses, electronic ceramics, many types of metals, wire insulators, and other various electronic components.

• Mercury (Hg) - Max per homogeneous material = 0.1% of total weight. Mercury is found in batteries, fluorescent lamps, switches, sensors, and relays.

• Hexavalent Chromium (CrVI) - Max per homogeneous material = 0.1% of total weight. Hexavalent Chromium is commonly found in many metal coatings, sprays, primers, and in hard chrome and metallizing plastics

• Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE) - Max per homogeneous material = 0.1% of total weight - PBB and PBDE are found in flame retardants in a variety of connectors, wire jackets, and RF shields

• Cadmium (Cd) - Max per homogeneous material = 0.01% of total weight Cadmium is found in electro-plating, Ni-Cd batteries, plastics, arcing contacts, and sensors.

Note that these lists of relevant applications is not all-inclusive and each company should do its own material content research and testing. Also, since most products are made up of many different substances, the RoHS Directive will be enforced on a homogeneous material basis. This means that each homogeneous material inside of a product cannot have hazardous materials above the pre-mentioned thresholds. A homogeneous material is defined as one that cannot be mechanically disjointed (this includes disjointing by abrasive techniques).