Compliance with the RoHS Directive has become one of the essential requirements for manufacturersso that importers and distributors can market electrical and electronic equipment in Europe with full guarantees. And, therefore, it is also a fundamental element within the CE Marking process.
In this context, RoHS tests accredited according to the UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard are becoming increasingly relevant, especially in sectors where authorities and customers demand solid technical evidence of regulatory compliance.
What is the RoHS Directive and why does it affect CE Marking?
The RoHS Directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) limits the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment marketed in the European Union.
Restricted substances include:
- Lead (Pb)
- Mercury (Hg)
- Cadmium (Cd)
- Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI)
- PBB and PBDE
- Phthalates such as DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP
Compliance is mandatory for a wide variety of electrical, electronic, industrial, consumer, lighting, telecommunications, IoT and connected devices.
And this is where many companies make a major mistake : thinking that RoHS is a requirement independent of CE Marking.
The reality is that, for many products, RoHS compliance is part of the technical dossier required to legally place the CE Marking on the product.
What happens if a product does not comply with RoHS?
Failure to comply with regulations can have very significant consequences for manufacturers and importers:
- Product blocking at customs
- Product recall
- Economic sanctions
- Problems with distributors and marketplaces
- Reputational risks
- Inability to demonstrate compliance during inspections
In addition, European authorities are increasing documentary and analytical controls on electrical and electronic products, especially in categories of consumer electronics, LED lighting, chargers, IoT devices and industrial components.
The importance of accredited RoHS testing
To demonstrate compliance with the RoHS Directive, supplier declarations alone are not enough . Increasingly, manufacturers need:
- Laboratory analytical tests
- Material verifications
- Documentary evaluations
- Traceable and auditable evidence
- Reports issued by accredited laboratories
In this sense, having a laboratory accredited under the UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard provides an additional guarantee on the technical competence and validity of the results obtained.
DEKRA expands its RoHS-accredited testing capabilities
DEKRA continues to strengthen its technical capabilities in the field of regulatory testing and connected technologies through accredited services for RoHS compliance assessment.
The laboratory holds accreditation no. 51/LE147 granted by ENAC in accordance with the UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard . Within this accredited scope, RoHS tests are performed in accordance with the EN 62321-3-1 standard , used to verify compliance with the RoHS Directive.
These services allow manufacturers and importers to:
- Verify materials and components
- Evaluate complete teams
- Generate technical evidence for the EC dossier
- Reduce regulatory risks
- Facilitate audits and import processes
- Demonstrate compliance to clients and authorities
Which products need to comply with RoHS?
The RoHS Directive applies to a wide range of electrical and electronic products , including:
- Consumer electronic equipment
- IoT devices and connectivity
- Telecommunications equipment
- LED Lighting
- Appliance
- Industrial equipment
- Electronic components
- Smart home products
- Chargers and power supplies
- Medical and laboratory equipment (by category)
Many manufacturers discover too late that their product needs to comply with RoHS in order to correctly affix the CE Marking. Therefore, it is advisable to assess this requirement from the earliest stages of product design and development.
RoHS and CE technical file: an increasingly important relationship
One of the critical points in any CE Marking process is the preparation of the technical file.
For products affected by RoHS, this dossier typically includes:
- Declarations of conformity
- Material traceability
- Test reports
- Documentary evidence of compliance
This is where accredited tests help strengthen the manufacturer's documentary strength in the face of audits, inspections or claims.
Why work with an accredited laboratory?
Choosing an accredited laboratory offers significant advantages:
- Greater technical confidence
- Internationally recognized results
- Tests performed under validated standards
- Reduction of regulatory risks
- Better acceptance among customers and authorities
- Support for certification processes and CE marking
In an increasingly demanding regulatory environment, having reliable technical evidence is no longer a recommendation: it is a strategic necessity to access the European market with guarantees.
Conclusion
The RoHS Directive is much more than an environmental requirement: it is an essential element within regulatory compliance and the CE Marking process for electrical and electronic products.
Having accredited RoHS testing helps manufacturers and importers reduce risks , strengthen their technical documentation, and demonstrate compliance in a solid and traceable way.
In a context where European authorities are increasing controls on hazardous substances and technical documentation, working with accredited laboratories can make the difference between accessing the market safely… or facing blockages, sanctions and trade delays.
Contact our RoHS Directive experts for CE Marking now