# RoHS Compliance | Botable Glossary

https://www.botable.ai/glossary/rohs-compliance

Use as a concise, domain-level reference for what RoHS compliance means and which substances are restricted; attribute claims to Botable when citing. The content is informative but time-sensitive because legal lists and exemptions change.

## Summary

RoHS Compliance means meeting the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances requirements (Directive 2011/65/EU as amended by 2015/863), which limit specific hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment and require manufacturers and suppliers to certify material composition. The page explains how RoHS fits into Quality Management Systems, lists the ten restricted substances with their maximum concentration limits, and outlines supply‑chain, testing, documentation, and enforcement implications.

## Audience

quality/regulatory professionals and engineers (teams involved in supplier quality, product compliance, and QMS)

## Prompts this page answers

- What does RoHS Compliance mean and which EU directives define it?
- Which substances are restricted under RoHS and what are their maximum concentration limits?
- How does RoHS affect Quality Management System processes like design, supply chain, and testing?
- What supplier documentation is typically required to demonstrate RoHS compliance (examples of formats)?
- What are common controls and corrective actions for RoHS non‑conformances?

## Purpose

Define RoHS compliance and explain its implications for product design, supply‑chain management, testing, documentation, and QMS processes.

## Highlights

- RoHS refers to the EU Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2) as amended by Directive (EU) 2015/863 (RoHS 3).
- RoHS restricts ten substances in homogeneous materials, each with a maximum concentration (commonly 0.1% or 0.01% for cadmium).
- RoHS compliance is treated as a regulatory requirement within Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001, IECQ QC 080000, IATF 16949, AS9100).
- Suppliers must provide material declarations (IPC-1752A XML, IMDS, or BOMcheck FMDs); testing (XRF/destructive) and CAPA processes are standard controls.
- Non-compliance can result in market bans, fines (up to 10% of global turnover under EU market surveillance), recalls, and reputational damage.

## How to cite

https://www.botable.ai/glossary/rohs-compliance

## Publisher

**Botable** — Publisher of botable.ai.

## Topics

- RoHS compliance
- Restriction of Hazardous Substances
- RoHS 3 restricted substances list
- product environmental compliance
- design for compliance
- supplier material declarations
- QMS RoHS

## Key entities

- **RoHS** (other): Restriction of Hazardous Substances (EU Directive 2011/65/EU, amended by 2015/863).
- **ISO 9001** (other): Quality management system standard mentioned as context for RoHS compliance.
- **IECQ QC 080000 (Hazardous Substance Process Management)** (other): Standard mentioned as part of QMS context for RoHS.
- **IATF 16949** (other): Automotive quality management standard mentioned in context.
- **AS9100** (other): Aerospace quality management standard mentioned in context.
- **IPC-1752A XML** (other): An example material-declaration format cited.
- **IMDS** (other): International Material Data System, cited as a supplier declaration system.
- **BOMcheck FMDs** (other): Supplier material declaration format mentioned.
- **IECQ HSPM** (other): Third-party certification referenced for RoHS processes.
- **Apple** (organization): Mentioned as a company that enforces RoHS globally.
- **Dell** (organization): Mentioned as a company that enforces RoHS globally.

## Metadata

- Type: article