What is RoHS?
EU Directive 2002/95/EC, also known as the The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive, was adopted in the European Union in February, 2003 and became effective on July 1, 2006. Its purpose is to restrict the the use of certain substances deemed hazardous to the environment in the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment.
What substances are restricted under the RoHS Directive?
• Lead (Pb)
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Hexavalent chromium (Cr 6+)
• Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)
The RoHS Directive imposes a quantity limit of 0.1% by mass (1,000 PPM) of homogeneous material for each of the substances listed above. The exception is cadmium (Cd), for which the quantity limit is 0.01% by mass (100 PPM) of homogeneous material.
What products are affected by the RoHS Directive?
The RoHS Directive applies to electrical and electronic equipment, and covers all of the components used to manufacture them -- including the fasteners. Examples include household appliances, computers, consumer electronic devices, lighting equipment, electric tools, medical devices, etc.
Who is affected by the RoHS Directive?
Technically, the RoHS Directive is binding only in the member nations of the European Union. However, since it applies to covered products imported into EU countries, its impact is being felt around the world. Any company producing products that will ultimately be sold in EU countries must ensure that the products (and therefore all components used in their manufacture) are RoHS compliant.
How does the RoHS Directive impact the U.S. fastener industry?
The manufacturing of industrial fasteners does not generally involve any of the substances restricted under the RoHS Directive. As such, the fastener industry is primarily concerned with the presence of hexavalent chromium (Cr 6+) and cadmium (Cd) used in electroplating. Electroplating is a finishing process commonly used as a means of improving the corrosion resistance and friction coefficients of industrial fasteners and other metal components.
As a practical matter, industrial fasteners are generally considered to be RoHS compliant if they:
• Are not cadmium plated
• Are not zinc plated
- OR -
• Are zinc plated using a hexavalent chromium free plating process








