Intertek Helps Companies Meet the Recast EU RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU) Compliance Obligations
July 14, 2011
Ottawa, Canada – Intertek (www.intertek.com), the leading provider of quality and safety services to a wide range of industries, today announced that it provides companies a single-source solution for compliance with the expanded scope and requirements of the European Union’s updated RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU).
Intertek’s team of global regulatory and technical experts can assist companies and their supply chains effectively and efficiently comply with the new and expanding requirements of the EU RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU). Intertek provides comprehensive consulting, testing and XRF screening, Bill of Material assessment, supply chain support, product conversion, compliance assurance system implementation and certification, and CE Product Marking and certification services for RoHS compliance. Utilizing Intertek’s vast wealth of restricted substances experts and locations in over 100 countries worldwide, Intertek’s commitment is to deliver effective solutions to facilitate its customers’ success in the global marketplace.
The new recast EU RoHS Directive, also known as RoHS 2 and the RoHS Recast, officially known as Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (recast), was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on July 1, 2011 and enters into force on July 21, 2011. There are significant changes that will impact the electronics industry. Specifically, the scope of the E.U. RoHS Directive has broadened to include: medical devices and monitoring and control instruments, including in vitro diagnostic medical devices, and industrial monitoring and control equipment. Additionally, electrical and electronic equipment which were not included in the initial landscape of the RoHS Directive scope (e.g. toys) are now covered. There is a staggered compliance timeline, with July 22, 2014 marking the first compliance deadline set for medical devices and monitoring and control instruments.
Companies failing to comply with RoHS face fines, damage to their brand, consequent loss of sales, goodwill and market share from the negative exposure, and withdrawal of products from the EU market.
The updated RoHS Directive includes CE marking and declaration of conformity requirements. Before placing an EEE on the market, manufacturer/importer/distributor shall ensure that the appropriate conformity assessment procedure in line with module A of Annex II to Decision No 768/2008/EC has been carried out and affix the CE marking on the finished product. This creates the need for robust compliance programs aligning that will follow standards created by the EU CENELEC body.
While the list of six restricted substances currently remains the same (lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBBs, PBDEs), the restricted substances are subject to review by July 2, 2014.
”The European Union continues to expand their initiative for safer products and will enforce legislation on companies who fail to meeting such objectives”, comments Dr. Ruud Overbeek, Vice President of Intertek’s Global Health and Environmental Services,. “We support businesses by insuring their products meet these expanding requirements and all other global health and environmental requirements in time”.
Intertek will present a free 1 hour webinar on July 21, 2011 reviewing the changes and requirements of the new EU RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU) and how these changes may impact your business. To register, please visit: http://www.intertek.com/events/2011/rohs2-webinar/.
For more information on Intertek’s RoHS Services, please visit: http://www.intertek.com/rohs/eu-directive.
Contacts
For further information, please contact
Joel Pekay
Global Marketing and Business Development Director
Telephone: 630-481-3126
Email: joel.pekay@intertek.com
About Intertek Health & Environment Services (www.intertek.com/green)
Intertek Health & Environment Services offers complete solutions addressing global, regional, and local compliance and chemical safety. We develop sound traceability systems and help with implementation of company specific policies. Intertek does more than simply help our clients comply, we give them the competitive advantage they desire. Our comprehensive health and environmental solutions cover Restricted Substances, REACH, California Proposition 65, Global Chemical Notification, Food Safety and Greenhouse Gas management. Services include strategy consulting, regulatory and product safety consulting, testing and analysis, legal representation, certification, supply chain management, scientific research, and corporate education appropriate for all types and levels of business. We deliver solutions to meet our customers' needs in managing their products in today's complex global marketplace.
About Intertek (www.intertek.com)
Intertek is a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world. From auditing and inspection, to testing, quality assurance and certification, Intertek people are dedicated to adding value to customers' products and processes, supporting their success in the global marketplace. Intertek has the expertise, resources and global reach to support its customers through its network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 30,000 people in more than 100 countries around the world.