Your product’s success hinges on its compliance with specific regulations; directives that are put in place to protect human health, the environment and consumer investments. Compliance with these regulations protects consumers from poor-quality or dangerous products and protects product developers who may be exposed to harmful components during manufacturing or disposal processes.
Below is a rundown of some of the top regulations that may impact your products. Develop your products with these regulations in mind from the very beginning to ensure an easier certification process for RoHS, WEEE, REACH, UL, ISO and IP rating.
REGULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT YOUR PRODUCTS
Also known as Lead Free or Directive 2002/95/EC
Purpose: RoHS compliance restricts the use of six hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products, including lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium. This compliance is important because it prevents toxic materials from impacting the environment, polluting landfills and jeopardizing the health of workers who are exposed to these materials during the manufacturing and recycling processes.
Industries Affected: Any business that sells electrical/electronic products, including sub-assemblies or components.
Certification Process: To become certified, electrical/electronic products, sub-assemblies or components are screened by a third-party company using portable RoHS analyzers.
WASTE FROM ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT (WEEE)
If your organization seeks RoHS compliance, it likely also requires (or will benefit from) WEEE compliance.
Purpose: WEEE aids in the responsible disposal of electrical and electronic equipment
Industries Affected: Producers and distributors of any device that depends on electric currents or electromagnetic fields to work properly.
Certification Process: Producers and distributors must take a different set of steps to become compliant. In short, producers must register with an approved Producer Compliance Scheme or the Environment Agency, define the tonnages of EEE contributed to the market, and ensure responsibilities related to funding WEEE recovery. Distributors must offer a ‘take back’ program.
WASTE FROM ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT (WEEE)
If your organization seeks RoHS compliance, it likely also requires (or will benefit from) WEEE compliance.
Purpose: WEEE aids in the responsible disposal of electrical and electronic equipment
Industries Affected: Producers and distributors of any device that depends on electric currents or electromagnetic fields to work properly.
Certification Process: Producers and distributors must take a different set of steps to become compliant. In short, producers must register with an approved Producer Compliance Scheme or the Environment Agency, define the tonnages of EEE contributed to the market, and ensure responsibilities related to funding WEEE recovery. Distributors must offer a ‘take back’ program.
