Knowledgebase
What are RoHS, IMDS, Green Partner and WEEE?
Posted by - NA - on 26 January 2008 05:32 AM

(1) RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances)

Scope
Manufacturers, sellers, distributors and recyclers of electrical and electronic equipment containing any of six chemical substances: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB (polybrominated biphenyls) or PBBE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers).

Purpose
This directive aims to protect human health and the environment by restricting the use of certain hazardous substances in new equipment (complementing the WEEE Directive).

Directive
From July 1, 2006 new electrical and electronic equipment will not contain lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls or polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Certain applications are exempt from the requirements of this directive, such as the inclusion of lead in electronic components and electronic ceramic parts.

Timeline
This directive is to be brought into force in the UK by August 13, 2004.

(2) WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)

Scope
Those involved in the manufacturing, selling, distributing, recycling or treatment of electrical / electronic equipment (including household appliances, IT and telecommunications equipment, audiovisual equipment, lighting equipment, electrical and electronic tools, toys, leisure and sports equipment, medical devices and automatic dispensers).

Purpose
This directive aims to reduce waste arising from electrical and electronic equipment, as well as to improve the environmental performance of waste involved in the life cycle of electrical and electronic equipment.

Directive
This directive covers WEEE from products used by consumers as well as those from products used for professional purposes.


By August 13, 2005, private households will be able to return their WEEE to collection facilities free of charge.�Producers (manufacturers, sellers, distributors) will be responsible for financing the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of WEEE deposited at these collection facilities. In addition, producers will be responsible for financing the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of WEEE from products on the market after August 13, 2005 from users other than those from private households. Producers will also be responsible for financing the management of WEEE from products placed on the market before August 13, 2005. However, it may be possible for all or a part of these costs to be recovered from users other than those from private households. By December 31, 2006, producers will be required to achieve a series of demanding recycling and recovery targets for different categories of appliances, with an annual average WEEE collection rate of four kilograms for each private household in the UK.

Timeline
This directive is to be brought into force in the UK by August 13, 2004.

(3) Sony Green Partner (SS-00259)

Scope
All suppliers shipping products to SONY group.

Purpose
This requirement aims SONY to keep the current and the future laws and directives implemented in the individual countries, and clarify the prohibited substances or substances to be controlled, contained in the parts and devices.

Requirement
Supplier shall declare the no usage of the chemical substances classified as Level 1 in the below table by submitting a report every month. Violating this requirement will cause a discontinued business with a supplier.

Level 1: Currently prohibited, Level 2: Prohibited near future, Level 3: Should be reduced. Please refer to the table showing ROHM's current situation.

Substances

Yes

No

Notice

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Heavy
Metals

Cadmium and Cadmium compounds

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Lead and lead compounds

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Mercury and mercury compounds

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X

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Hexavalent chromium compounds

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X

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Chlorinated
Organic
Compounds

Polychlorinated biphenyls(PCB)

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X

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Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN)

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X

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Chlorinated paraffins(CP)

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X

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Mirex (Perchlordecone)

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X

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Other chlorinated organic compounds

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X

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Brominated
Organic
Compounds

Polybrominated biphenyls(PBB)

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X

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Polybrominated diphenylethers(PBDE)

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X

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Tetrabromobisphenol-A-bis-(2,3-dibromopropylether) (TBBP-A-bis)

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X

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Other brominated organic compounds

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X

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Organic tin compounds (Tributyl tin compounds, Triphenyl tin compounds)

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Asbestos

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X

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Azo compounds

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X

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Formaldehyde

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Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and PVC blends

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Included
(No level applicable)

(4) IMDS (International Material Data System)

Scope
All suppliers shipping products to automotive companies, which are using EDS WEB site. (13 major automotive company GM, Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, Nissan at this moment 5/7/03).

Purpose
Share chemical related data of parts with individual automotive company using IMDS WEB site launched by EDS (German IT company).

Requirement
Suppliers shall enter data regarding chemical substances contained in parts into the IMDS WEB site in the future.


At this moment (5/7/03) the requirement has not been implemented. If a customer required data for a entry to IMDS by their self, please handle it as a regular request. If the request expected ROHM to enter data directly into IMDS WEB, please contact QA in San Diego before starting a process so that consistency (i.e company ID, Pass word) will be kept among all ROHM group.

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