White Paper: Understanding RoHS

With the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulations scheduled to take effect in July 2006, there is ongoing concern regarding the readiness of American companies to meet new European standards. Initiated by the European Union, RoHS is a direct response to growing calls for the regulation of materials deemed hazardous (including lead, cadmium, and mercury) in consumer electronic equipment.

Potentially packing the greatest global impact of any single environmental regulation over the past 25 years, RoHS will affect all electronics manufacturers in some way, across the EU, the United States, and beyond.

As consumer and environmental concerns gain more and more momentum and political traction, RoHS seems likely to be the beginning of a global trend. Some of the world's other prime economic regions, including China, Japan, and Taiwan are already working on similar laws (China calls its the Regulation for Pollution Control of Electronic Products), and the geographic market for non-compliant products is shrinking.