The RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive calls for the elimination of the following substances from certain kinds of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) sold in Europe from July 1, 2006: Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent chromium, Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDE). Some exemptions have been granted because, to date, no substitute materials are available. For example: lead in the glass used for cathode ray tubes. The list of exemptions will be modified to adapt to scientific and technical progress.

The legal context: equipment categories that apply primarily to consumer goods.
The RoHS Directive applies to equipment in the following categories:

• Large household appliances
• Small household appliances
• IT and telecommunications equipment
• Consumer equipment
• Lighting equipment (including electric light bulbs and household light fixtures)
• Electrical and electronic tools, except large-scale stationary industrial tools
• Toys, leisure and sports equipment
• Automatic dispensers

The RoHS Directive does not apply :

• To large-scale stationary industrial tools
• To spare parts for the repair or reuse of EEE placed on the market before 1 July 2006
• To equipment relating to protection of the essential interests of state security, weapons, ammunition and military equipment designed for specifically military purposes