Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive
Environmental protection and the preservation of resources has been an integral part of the corporate policy at Sentera in its role as innovative and leading manufacturer of HVAC control solutions. In other words, we are committed to designing environment-friendly products and use environmentally compatible production processes.
Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive
The rise in the production and use of electrical and electronic products, such as mobile phones, computers and kitchen appliances, has resulted in an increasing volume of electrical and electronic waste. During the use, collection, treatment and disposal of such waste, products may release harmful (hazardous) substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium, which can cause major environmental and health problems. To address such challenges, EU laws restrict the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment through the RoHS Directive.
RoHS is an acronym for "Restriction of Hazardous Substances." It is a directive in the European Union that regulates the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). RoHS aims to reduce the environmental and health risks associated with the manufacturing, use, and disposal of electronic products by limiting the presence of particular harmful substances in these products. Its primary objective is to promote the production of electronic equipment that is safer and more environmentally friendly.
RoHS compliance is mandated for EU, UAE, EAEU, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Ukraine, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, India, Serbia, Vietnam, California, New Jersey, and Oman. Non-compliance can result in legal penalties.
The original RoHS, also known as Directive 2002/95/EC or RoHS 1, originated in the European Union in 2002 and restricts the use of six hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products. All applicable products in the EU market since July 1, 2006 must pass RoHS compliance.
EU RoHS 2 refers to Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). It replaced the first EU RoHS directive 2002/95/EC (RoHS 1) and entered into force on 21 July 2011. The RoHS 2 broadened the scope of products covered by RoHS 1. For instance, it added medical devices (category 8) and monitoring and control instruments (category 9) to its list of products. Moreover, it established separate compliance deadlines for each group.
The RoHS 3 directive (2011/65/EU) contains allowance to add new materials and 4 materials are highlighted for this attention in the original version, the amendment 2015/863 adds four additional substances to Annex II of 2011/65/EU. So the RoHS Directive currently restricts the use of ten substances. All products with an electrical and electronic component, unless specifically excluded, have to comply with these restrictions.
Sentera ensures that all legal directives concerning occupational safety and environmental protection are complied with during the production process. Our state-of-the-art products are designed in such a way that - when used as intended - users will not be subjected to any health hazards and the environment will not be polluted. Sentera has always been an environmentally responsible company and our products have been RoHS compliant since January 2005. All Sentera products maintain their compliant status under EU RoHS3 directive 2015/863/EU. Sentera is aiming to ensure that the following substances are not intentionally included ingredients in the manufacturing or packaging of any of our products:
Cadmium (Cd)
Lead (Pb)
Mercury (Hg)
Hexavalent Chromium: (Cr VI)
Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)
Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)
As per EU RoHS3 Directive, a maximum concentration value of 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials of Lead, Hexavalent Chromium, Mercury, Polybrominated Biphenyl (PBB) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE) and of 0.01% weight in homogenous Cadmium shall be included. Going forward, Sentera fully intends to remain compliant with all new emerging RoHS directives.
REACH declaration
What does REACH stand for? REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of chemicals. REACH (EC) 1907/2006 is a European Union regulation that affects the supply and use of substances. The Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals is the main EU law to protect human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals. The main difference between RoHS and REACH is that RoHS bans substances that are present in electronics and is specific to the aforementioned hazardous materials. REACH, however, pertains to all chemicals including those used to make a product. This can include materials, solvents, paints, chemicals, and more.
RoHS and REACH are two different acts with different scopes and objectives. RoHS is a sector specific directive laying down rules on the restriction of certain hazardous substances in EEE, while REACH is a general act regulating registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemical substances. RoHS does not affect the application of REACH, and vice-versa, with regard to the restriction of substances in EEE. When overlaps occur, the strongest restriction (i.e. the lowest maximum concentration) should be applied. Furthermore, exemptions from the substance restrictions in RoHS may not be granted if they result in a weakening of the environmental and human health protection afforded by REACH.
All Sentera products are compliant to EU REACH directive 1907/2006/EU.