SI 2012 No. 3032
In forceThe Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012
Restricts ten hazardous substances (including lead, mercury, cadmium and four phthalates) in electrical and electronic equipment placed on the Great Britain market. Manufacturers must self-assess, draw up a declaration of conformity and technical documentation, and affix the UK marking.
Applies to
Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), plus cables and spare parts, placed on the market in Great Britain. A defined list of equipment is excluded (for example military equipment and equipment designed to be sent into space) - check the Regulations and GOV.UK guidance for the exclusions relevant to your product.
Key obligations
- 01EEE placed on the market must not contain the substances listed in Schedule A1 above the maximum concentration value by weight in homogeneous materials: 0.1% for lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP, and 0.01% for cadmium.source
- 02Manufacturers must carry out the internal production control procedure and draw up technical documentation demonstrating compliance.source
- 03Manufacturers must draw up a declaration of conformity stating that the requirements have been met in relation to the EEE.source
- 04The UK marking must be affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly to the EEE (or to its packaging or accompanying documents where that is not possible).source
- 05Economic operators (manufacturers, importers, distributors) have traceability obligations and must provide information identifying the EEE and the manufacturer.source
- 06Technical documentation must be retained for 10 years after the last product is first placed on the market and made available to enforcement authorities on request.source
Conformity routes
- Internal production control (self-assessment)The standard route for all in-scope EEE: the manufacturer carries out the internal production control procedure, draws up technical documentation and a declaration of conformity, and affixes the UK marking. No third-party body is involved.source
Documentation
- UK Declaration of ConformityMust be drawn up by the manufacturer stating the requirements have been met; a model template is available for download from the GOV.UK RoHS guidance page.source
- Technical documentationDemonstrates compliance via the internal production control procedure; retain for 10 years after the last product is first placed on the market.source
Marking requirements
Testing standards
Harmonised and designated standards lists change over time: confirm the currently cited version before testing.
Key dates
- 2013-01-02The Regulations came into force.source
- 2019-07-22End of the transitional exclusion for EEE outside the scope of the 2008 Regulations ('open scope'); Schedule A1 phthalate entries also key exemptions for cables and spare parts to EEE placed on the market before this date.source
- 2027-12-31Last day of the option to affix the UKCA mark by means of a label or accompanying documents rather than directly to the product.source
Penalties
Breach is a criminal offence under Part 3 (regulations 37-39), punishable by fines (level depends on the offence and how it is tried). The Secretary of State is the market surveillance authority (in practice the Office for Product Safety and Standards) and can use test-purchase and entry powers and issue compliance, enforcement and recall notices; courts can also make remediation and cost-recovery orders. Exact fine bands should be confirmed against regulation 39.sourceUnverified — check source
Further guidance
Applies to these product types
- Audio / video equipmentUK
- Baby and nursery productUK
- Batteries and power banksUK
- Cameras and opticsUK
- Candles and home fragranceUK
- Chargers and power suppliesUK
- Children's product (non-toy)UK
- Computer peripheralUK
- Consumer electronics (mains-powered)UK
- Drone / UASUK
- E-mobility (e-bikes, e-scooters)UK
- Food-contact productsUK
- FurnitureUK
- Garden and outdoor equipmentUK
- General consumer productUK
- Household applianceUK
- Jewellery and accessoriesUK
- LightingUK
- Machinery and industrial equipmentUK
- Pet productsUK
- Power toolUK
- PPE and safety gearUK
- Smart home productUK
- Sports and fitness equipmentUK
- Textiles and apparelUK
- ToyUK
- Wearable deviceUK
- Wireless / IoT deviceUK
Frequently asked
Which substances does UK RoHS restrict?+
Ten substances, listed in Schedule A1: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), and four phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP). The limit is 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials for each, except cadmium at 0.01%.
Do I need third-party testing or an approved body for RoHS?+
No. UK RoHS uses self-assessment (internal production control). You are responsible for evidencing compliance in your technical documentation - material declarations and lab testing are common ways to do that, but no third-party certificate is required by the Regulations.
Does RoHS require UKCA marking?+
Yes. In-scope EEE must carry the UK marking, affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly. Until 31 December 2027 GOV.UK guidance allows the UKCA mark to be applied via a label or accompanying documents.
How long do I need to keep RoHS documentation?+
GOV.UK guidance states technical documentation must be retained for 10 years after the last product is first placed on the market, and made available to enforcement authorities on request.
Who enforces UK RoHS?+
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) enforces the Regulations. Breaches are criminal offences and OPSS can issue compliance, enforcement and recall notices.
Check how this applies to your product
Run the full checker to see which regulations apply to your exact product, market and features.