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Updated EU RoHS Exemptions in February 2019

On top of the recent update of exemptions 6a and 6b on aluminum and steel alloys, the European Commission has published various amendments on general EU RoHS Annex III exemptions on the use of lead and cadmium in electrical and electronic applications.

RoHS Annex III Expiration of Exemptions

These amendments, (EU)  2019/169 to 2019/178, can be summarized as follow:
 EU RoHS Exemptions #DescriptionExpiration date
7c-IILead in dielectric ceramic in capacitors for a rated voltage of 125 V AC or 250 V DC or higherAs of March 1st 2020: does not apply to applications covered by point 7c-I and 7c-IV. Expires on: — 21 July 2021 for categories 1-7 and 10; — 21 July 2021 for categories 8 and 9 other than in vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring and control instruments; — 21 July 2023 for category 8 in vitro diagnostic medical devices; — 21 July 2024 for category 9 industrial monitoring and control instruments, and for category 11.
7c-IVLead in PZT-based dielectric ceramic materials for capacitors being part of integrated circuits or discrete semiconductorsExpires on: — 21 July 2021 for categories 1-7 and 10; — 21 July 2021 for categories 8 and 9 other than in vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring and control instruments; — 21 July 2023 for category 8 in vitro diagnostic medical devices; — 21 July 2024 for category 9 industrial monitoring and control instruments, and for category 11.
8bCadmium and its compounds in electrical contactsAs of March 1st 2020: applies to categories 8, 9 and 11 and expires on: — 21 July 2021 for categories 8 and 9 other than in vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring and control instruments; — 21 July 2023 for category 8 in vitro diagnostic medical devices; — 21 July 2024 for category 9 industrial monitoring and control instruments, and for category 11.
8b-ICadmium and its compounds in electrical contacts used in: — circuit breakers, — thermal sensing controls, — thermal motor protectors (excluding hermetic thermal motor protectors), — AC switches rated at: – 6 A and more at 250 V AC and more, or – 12 A and more at 125 V AC and more, — DC switches rated at 20 A and more at 18 V DC and more, and — switches for use at voltage supply frequency ≥ 200 Hz.As of March 1st 2020: applies to categories 1 to 7 and 10 and expires on 21 July 2021.
15Lead in solders to complete a viable electrical connection between semiconductor die and carrier within integrated circuit flip chip packagesAs of March 1st 2020: applies to categories 8, 9 and 11 and expires on: — 21 July 2021 for categories 8 and 9 other than in vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring and control instruments; — 21 July 2023 for category 8 in vitro diagnostic medical devices; — 21 July 2024 for category 9 industrial monitoring and control instruments, and for category 11.
15aLead in solders to complete a viable electrical connection between the semiconductor die and carrier within integrated circuit flip chip packages where at least one of the following criteria applies: — a semiconductor technology node of 90 nm or larger; — a single die of 300 mm2 or larger in any semiconductor technology node; — stacked die packages with die of 300 mm2 or larger, or silicon interposers of 300 mm2 or larger.As of March 1st 2020: applies to categories 1 to 7 and 10 and expires on 21 July 2021.
18bLead as activator in the fluorescent powder (1 % lead by weight or less) of discharge lamps when used as sun tanning lamps containing phosphors such as BSP  (BaSi2O5:Pb).Expires on: — 21 July 2021 for categories 1-7 and 10; — 21 July 2021 for categories 8 and 9 other than in vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring and control instruments; — 21 July 2023 for category 8 in vitro diagnostic medical devices; — 21 July 2024 for category 9 industrial monitoring and control instruments, and for category 11.
18b-ILead as activator in the fluorescent powder (1 % lead by weight or less) of discharge lamps containing phosphors such as BSP (BaSi2O5:Pb) when used in medical phototherapy equipmentAs of March 1st 2020: applies to categories 5 and 8, excluding applications covered by entry 34 of Annex IV (i.e. Lead as an activator in the fluorescent powder of discharge lamps when used for extracorporeal photopheresis lamps containing BSP (BaSi2O5:Pb) phosphors for Medical Devices and Monitoring and Control Instruments), and expires on 21 July 2021.
21Lead and cadmium in printing inks for the application of enamels on glasses, such as borosilicate and soda lime glassesAs of March 1st 2020: applies to categories 8, 9 and 11 and expires on: — 21 July 2021 for categories 8 and 9 other than in vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring and control instruments; — 21 July 2023 for category 8 in vitro diagnostic medical devices; — 21 July 2024 for category 9 industrial monitoring and control instruments, and for category 11.
21aCadmium when used in colour printed glass to provide filtering functions, used as a component in lighting applications installed in displays and control panels of EEEAs of March 1st 2020: applies to categories 1 to 7 and 10 except applications covered by entry 21b or entry 39 and expires on 21 July 2021.
21bCadmium in printing inks for the application of enamels on glasses, such as borosilicate and soda lime glassesAs of March 1st 2020: applies to categories 1 to 7 and 10 except applications covered by entry 21a or 39 and expires on 21 July 2021.
21cLead in printing inks for the application of enamels on other than borosilicate glassesAs of March 1st 2020: applies to categories 1 to 7 and 10 and expires on 21 July 2021.
29Lead bound in crystal glass as defined in Annex I (Categories 1, 2, 3, 4) of Directive 69/493/EECExpires on: — 21 July 2021 for categories 1-7 and 10; — 21 July 2021 for categories 8 and 9 other than in vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring and control instruments; — 21 July 2023 for category 8 in vitro diagnostic medical devices; — 21 July 2024 for category 9 industrial monitoring and control instruments, and for category 11.
32Lead oxide in seal frit used for making window assemblies for Argon and Krypton laser tubesExpires on: — 21 July 2021 for categories 1-7 and 10, — 21 July 2021 for categories 8 and 9 other than in vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring and control instruments, — 21 July 2023 for category 8 in vitro diagnostic medical devices, — 21 July 2024 for category 9 industrial monitoring and control instruments, and for category 11.
37Lead in the plating layer of high voltage diodes on the basis of a zinc borate glass bodyExpires on: — 21 July 2021 for categories 1-7 and 10; — 21 July 2021 for categories 8 and 9 other than in vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring and control instruments; — 21 July 2023 for category 8 in vitro diagnostic medical devices; — 21 July 2024 for category 9 industrial monitoring and control instruments, and for category 11.
42Lead in bearings and bushes of diesel or gaseous fuel powered internal combustion engines applied in non-road professional use equipment: — with engine total displacement ≥ 15 litres; or — with engine total displacement < 15 litres and the engine is designed to operate in applications where the time between signal to start and full load is required to be less than 10 seconds; or regular maintenance is typically performed in a harsh and dirty outdoor environment, such as mining, construction, and agriculture applicationsApplies to category 11, excluding applications covered by entry 6c.Expires on 21 July 2024.
RoHS product technical files and declarations of conformity have to be updated accordingly.

Additional details about RoHS requirements and an updated EU RoHS exemptions list are maintained by Enviropass.

You are welcome to contact Enviropass for more information.