Regulations: restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS)
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-22)

Guidance for manufacturers, importers and distributors.

Overview

In Great Britain (GB) and in Northern Ireland (NI) many types of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) are regulated to control the levels of certain hazardous substances and chemicals they contain, with the aim of protecting human and animal health. This extends to specific steps that must be taken where a product is known or suspected to be non-compliant (#notifications-guidance).

All products in scope must:
- have supporting technical documentation (often referred to as a technical file) to demonstrate compliance
- have a Declaration of Conformity
- be labelled with the required information
- display the appropriate conformity marking for the GB and / or NI markets as appropriate
In GB and NI, the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 (as amended) are the underpinning legislation. However, there are differences in how they apply in GB and NI, as explained below.

What is covered

The regulations in GB and in NI cover all EEE, cables and spare parts, with some exemptions including:
- some equipment for military use or specifically designed to be sent into space
- products integral to equipment that is not covered by the regulations
- large-scale stationary industrial tools and large-scale fixed installations
- photovoltaic (solar) panels produced for permanent use at specific locations
- means of transport (apart from certain two-wheeled electric vehicles)
- non-road mobile machinery specifically for professional use
- products specifically for research and development available on a business-to-business basis
- pipe organs
- active implantable medical devices
Extent of obligation

In GB and NI, manufacturers, importers and distributors, which include retailers, (known as economic operators) are responsible for the compliance of EEE that they place or make available on the GB and / or NI market.

Economic operators in GB and NI must be able to identify who supplied them and who they supplied for 10 years following the placing on the market of the EEE.

Exemptions

For certain specific technical applications, you can apply for an exemption to allow these hazardous substances to be used above their maximum prescribed values.

GB operates its own exemptions system, independent of the EU exemptions system.

Read guidance about exemptions in GB, including how to apply. (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/restriction-of-hazardous-substances-rohs-exemptions-how-to-apply)

NI continues to follow the EU exemptions system.

Read guidance about the EU exemptions system, including how to apply. (https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/rohs-directive_en)

How to comply

Manufacturers placing EEE on the market in GB and / or NI must evaluate their production controls to ensure that their products do not exceed the maximum prescribed levels of the following hazardous substances:
- cadmium (0.01%)
- lead (0.1%)
- mercury (0.1%)
- hexavalent chromium (0.1%)
- polybrominated biphenyls (0.1%)
- polybrominated diphenyl ethers (0.1%)
- bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (0.1%)
- benzyl butyl phthalate (0.1%)
- dibutyl phthalate (0.1%)
- diisobutyl phthalate (0.1%)
To demonstrate compliance, technical documentation is required, comprising:
- a Declaration of Conformity
- a record of the related conformity assessment procedure
- any other production control documentation, such as test reports
This is often called the Technical Package. It must be retained for 10 years after the last product is first placed on the market and be made available to OPSS on request. Some regulations require it to be kept for longer for certain EEE. For example, see guidance on energy labelling requirements (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-energy-labelling-of-products).

Download a model Declaration of Conformity. (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/606c1722e90e074e4c7b9baa/model-declaration-of-conformity.odt) (ODT, 6.9 KB)

Individual products must have a type, batch or serial number and show the manufacturer’s name or trademark, and address. Manufacturers must also declare conformity with all relevant legislation by affixing:
- the UKCA mark, in the case of EEE being placed on the market in GB
and /or
- the CE mark, in the case of EEE being placed on the market in NI
Some EEE will also be subject to regulations that require mandatory third-party conformity assessment.

Read further information on conformity assessment and the appropriate markings (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-market-in-great-britain#check-if-you-need-to-change-your-conformity-assessment-or-marking).

On 1 August 2023 and 24 January 2024 the Government announced the extension of recognition of certain goods that meet EU requirements (including the CE marking), indefinitely, beyond 2024 for many products. The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024 give effect to this and came into force on 1 October 2024.

Until 31 December 2027, you have the option to affix the UKCA mark by means of a label, or similar, to the product, packaging, or documents, as required. From 1 January 2028, the UKCA mark should be directly affixed to the product.

This applies for most goods requiring UKCA marking. There are different rules for:
- medical devices
- construction products
- marine equipment
- transportable pressure equipment
- rail products
Importers must:
- confirm manufacturers have met the regulations for EEE they place on the GB and / or NI market
- retain a copy of the Declaration of Conformity
- ensure technical documentation is available to OPSS on request for 10 years after the last product is first placed on the market
Individual products must show the importer’s name or trademark, and a contactable address on the product or packaging.

If an importer places EEE on the GB or NI market under its own name or trademark, it must comply with all manufacturer’s obligations.

Distributors must:
- ensure EEE displays the relevant markings
- not make a product available if they have reason to believe it is non-compliant
If a distributor modifies EEE in a way that might affect the compliance of that product, it must comply with all manufacturer’s obligations.

You are an importer if:
- You are the first one bringing goods from outside the UK and placing them on the market in GB.
Read guidance on placing manufactured goods on the market in GB. (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-market-in-great-britain#check-your-legal-responsibilities)
- You are the one bringing goods for the first time into NI from either GB or another non-EU country and placing them on the NI market.
Read guidance on placing manufactured goods on the market in NI. (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-market-in-northern-ireland#check-your-legal-responsibilities)

Notifications

Economic operators in Great Britain and Northern Ireland must take specific steps if they know or suspect a product is non-compliant, including:
- Notifying OPSS if the economic operator ‘considers or has reason to believe’ that a product placed on the GB and/ or NI market does not conform to the regulations.
- Notifying the relevant EU Member State Market Surveillance Authority if the economic operator ‘considers or has reason to believe’ that a product placed on the NI or EU market does not conform to the regulations.
- Keeping a register of EEE that they have placed on the market that is non-compliant or that has been recalled and keep others in the supply chain informed of these matters.
Communicating detected non-compliant products to other economic operators in the supply chain as follows:
- manufacturers and importers must inform their distributors
- importers must inform the manufacturer
- distributors must inform the importer or manufacturer as appropriate
Taking remedial action, as appropriate, if the economic operator ‘considers or has reason to believe’ that a product does not conform to the regulations which includes:
- taking corrective measures (fix the non-conformity)
- withdrawing the product (stop it from being made available further down the supply chain, including to end users)
- recalling the product (draw it back from end users)
Notifications can be submitted to OPSS via the following form:

Download the RoHS notifications form. (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6620d44c09ee0861b6757d49/rohs-notification-guidance-and-form-2024.odt) (ODT, 650 KB)

Please note: This form should not be edited. If you are unable to answer a question in full please make the reason for this clear.

The role of the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)

OPSS has been appointed by Defra to enforce the regulations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Where to find out more

If placing products on the market or making products available on the market in Great Britain:
- Guidance for businesses on the RoHS Regulations 2012: GB (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/restriction-of-hazardous-substances-rohs-regulations/rohs-regulations-2012-as-amended-great-britain)
- RoHS Regulations 2012 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/3032/contents), as amended (as applicable in GB)
- Placing manufactured goods on the market in GB (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-market-in-great-britain)
If placing products on the market or making products available on the market in Northern Ireland:
- Guidance for businesses on the RoHS Regulations 2012: NI (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/restriction-of-hazardous-substances-rohs-regulations/rohs-regulations-2012-as-amended-northern-ireland)
- RoHS Regulations 2012 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/3032/contents), as amended (as applicable in NI)
- Placing manufactured goods on the market in NI (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-market-in-northern-ireland)
- RoHS Directive (https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/rohs-directive_en) – European Commission
- RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1584116022829&uri=CELEX:02011L0065-20200301) (as applicable in NI)
Contact us

If you have a specific enquiry about compliance or wish to contact us regarding suspected non-compliance please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Alternatively you can contact our helpdesk on xx-xxxx-xxxx.

Or in writing to:

Office for Product Safety and Standards4th Floor Multistory18 The Priory QueenswayBirminghamB4 6BSUnited Kingdom