Decision tree
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The following pages lead you through the RoHS decision tree, which is intended to help producers and others determine whether or not electrical and electronic equipment they put on the market in the UK falls within the scope of the RoHS Regulations.
Do the RoHS Regulations apply to your product?
If your business puts electrical and electronic equipment on the EU market in the UK, you may need to comply with the RoHs Regulations, which in part implement the RoHS Directive.
What is electrical and electronic equipment?
The RoHS Regulations apply to electrical and electronic equipment which:
i. is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work properly, including equipment for the generation, transfer and measurement of such currents and fields;
ii. is designed for use with a voltage rating not exceeding 1,000V for alternating current and 1,500V for direct current; and
iii. falls into one of the 10 categories in schedule 1 to the RoHS Regulations.
Certain items for particular uses are exempt from the Regulations.
Find out more information about RoHS exemptions and the main power source.
Professional use
The RoHS Directive covers both household and professional electrical and electronic equipment, so products for professional, i.e. commercial and industrial use, are covered by the RoHS Regulations. Therefore, professional versions of products that fall under categories 1,2 and 4 should also be considered to be within the scope of the RoHS Regulations.
Your responsibilities
In preparing this document we have taken account of the European Commission document Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 1.1 Mb) and followed it where appropriate.
Ultimately only the courts can provide a definitive answer on the meaning of the Regulations, but this guidance sets out our view and is based on the best and most up to date information available to us at the time.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you refer to the most up to date guidance.
The advice contained within this decision tree is based on the best and most up to date information available to us at the time. It follows the same decision tree that will be used for enforcement decisions that are now in effect. We have tried to expand it to give you as much information as possible based on our present knowledge. However, it is a live document and will continue to change as we receive feedback and/or clarification from the regulators and it is not a definitive opinion, as only the courts can interpret legislation with any authority.
