RoHS is Revised

Flag_of_Europe.svgIn July 2011, the European Union Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) recast directive 2011/65/EU entered into force.  This new directive replaces the previous RoHS directive, 2002/95/EC, clarifies some issues with the original directive, and adds some obligations for manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).  As a manufacturer primarily of components, many of the new obligations do not apply directly to Molex.  Regardless, Molex is set up to help its customers ensure compliance to the RoHS legislation.

Substance Restrictions

Molex redesigned many components to comply with the RoHS substance restrictions as the original RoHS directive came into force.  Because the recast directive did not add new restricted substances, these redesigned components comply with the recast directive substance restrictions as well.  Therefore, customers can be assured that Molex components indicated as compliant to RoHS continue to meet the recast directive substance restriction requirements.  Molex will monitor legislative changes to understand whether substances are added to RoHS in the future.

Scope

The scope of RoHS increased in the recast directive, particularly to include medical devices, monitoring and control instruments, and all other EEE; these categories of products will be phased in over the next few years.  Since Molex already redesigned many components to comply with the RoHS substance restrictions, Molex is able to provide these compliant components to customers whose EEE is now in scope of RoHS.

CE Mark

The recast directive now requires EEE manufacturers to affix a CE mark to finished EEE and perform a conformity assessment.  The RoHS 2 FAQ confirms that components of EEE do not require a CE mark.  Therefore, Molex cannot affix a CE mark to connectors and other interconnect components that aren’t considered finished EEE.

A conformity assessment is performed by EEE manufacturers to ensure the EEE complies with the substance restrictions; in this conformity assessment, Molex’s customers need to assess risks in the supply chain.  Due to Molex’s product compliance management, explained in detail in the ecocare section of molex.com, customers performing risk assessments can be confident that Molex’s RoHS compliant components meet the substance restrictions.

Cables

The RoHS 2 FAQ also clarifies that certain cables are considered to be EEE.  When customers indicate finished cables manufactured by Molex are placed on the market separately, Molex can affix a CE mark.

In summary, Molex is able to work with its customers to comply with the RoHS recast directive, which has clarified many issues and added additional obligations.  Molex is well positioned to ensure its components of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) meet the RoHS substance restrictions, and customers can be confident in the components they source from Molex.