Introduction to EU RoHS Test Items

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Update time : 2026-01-20

The test items of the EU RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) have been upgraded from "6 core controlled substances" to "10 mandatory controlled substances". The current standard is based on RoHS 2.0 (Directive 2011/65/EU), with 4 additional phthalate substances added, forming a complete system of 10 test items. It covers raw materials, components and finished products of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE), aiming to restrict the harm of hazardous substances to the environment and human health.

The following is a detailed description of the 10 ROHS Test items, including substance characteristics, limit values, application scenarios and detection methods:

Original 6 Core Controlled Substances (Basic Items of RoHS 1.0)

These 6 substances are the core control content of the RoHS Directive, applicable to most electrical and electronic products, with clear and strict limit standards:

Test Item	Limit Requirement	Main Application Scenarios	Hazards & Detection Methods
Lead (Pb)	≤1000 ppm for general materials; ≤2500 ppm for steel alloys; ≤4000 ppm for aluminum alloys; ≤40000 ppm for copper alloys	Solder, glass components, ceraMICs, batteries, plastic stabilizers	Damages the nervous and blood systems; Detection methods: XRF screening, ICP-MS quantification (refer to IEC 62321-3-1)
Cadmium (Cd)	≤100 ppm for all homogeneous materials (strictest limit)	Batteries, pigments, electroplating layers, plastic stabilizers	Highly toxic, damages the kidneys and bones; Detection methods: ICP-MS, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)
Mercury (Hg)	≤1000 ppm	Thermostats, sensors, switches, fluorescent lamps, batteries	Damages the nervous system and contaminates soil and water sources; Detection methods: Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy (CV-AFS), ICP-MS (refer to IEC 62321-4)
Hexavalent Chromium (Cr⁶⁺)	≤1000 ppm	Metal anti-corrosion coatings, electroplating layers, rust inhibitors, pigments	Highly carcinogenic, irritates the skin and respiratory tract; Detection methods: Ion Chromatography (IC), ULtraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis, refer to ISO 3613)
Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs)	≤1000 ppm	Plastic flame retardants, printed circuit boards (PCB), connectors, plastic housings	Endocrine disruptors, toxic with long-term accumulation; Detection method: GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, refer to EN 62321-6)
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)	≤1000 ppm	Plastic flame retardants, cable insulation layers, electronic housings, foam materials	Same as PBBs; contaminates the environment and is difficult to degrade; Detection method: GC-MS (refer to EN 62321-6)

4 Additional Phthalate Substances in RoHS 2.0 (Formal Control Implemented in 2019)

To further strengthen environmental protection requirements, RoHS 2.0 has included 4 commonly used plasticizers in mandatory control, mainly targeting PVC materials, cables, flexible plastic components, etc.:

Test Item	Limit Requirement	Main Application Scenarios	Hazards & Detection Methods
Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP)	≤1000 ppm	PVC plasticizers (cables, wire insulation layers), ceramic electrolytes, flexible plastic components	Endocrine disruptor, affects the reproductive system; Detection method: GC-MS (refer to IEC 62321-8)
Benzyl Butyl Phthalate (BBP)	≤1000 ppm	PVC materials, cellulose resins, rubber plasticizers, coatings, adhesives	Same as DEHP; harmful with long-term exposure; Detection method: GC-MS
Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)	≤1000 ppm	PVC cables, sockets, pipes, paints, sealants	Endocrine disruptor, impairs reproductive development; Detection method: GC-MS
Diisobutyl Phthalate (DIBP)	≤1000 ppm	PVC plasticizers (alternative to DBP), rubber, electronic connectors, composite materials	Same as other phthalates; disrupts the endocrine system; Detection method: GC-MS

Test Scope & Special Instructions

1. Applicable Products: Covers electrical and electronic equipment below AC 1000V/DC 1500V, including household appliances, information technology equipment, communication equipment, lighting equipment, medical devices, automotive electronics, batteries, packaging materials, etc.

2. Material-Specific Testing:

①　Metal materials: Only need to test the first 4 items (Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr⁶⁺).

②　Non-metal materials (plastics, rubber, coatings, etc.): Need to test all 10 items.

3. Exemption Provisions: Exemptions can be applied for certain specific applications (e.g., medical devices, aerospace components), but they must meet conditions such as "technically irreplaceable" and "alternative solutions causing greater environmental harm". The exemption list will be updated with technological progress (refer to Annexes III and IV of the Directive).

4. Testing Standards: All tests uniformly follow the IEC 62321 series standards (e.g., XRF screening, ICP-MS quantification, GC-MS detection of organic pollutants) to ensure the accuracy and consistency of results.

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