The exemptions of RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU) are listed in Annex III and Annex IV. The exemptions in Annex III are suitable for all EEE. Meanwhile, the exemptions in Annex IV are only suitable for medical devices and monitoring and control instruments.
On February 24, 2022, the European Commission published Directives (EU) 2022/274, (EU) 2022/275, (EU) 2022/276, (EU) 2022/277, (EU) 2022/278, (EU) 2022/279, (EU) 2022/280, (EU) 2022/281, (EU) 2022/282, (EU) 2022/283, (EU) 2022/284, (EU) 2022/287, revising several exemptions related to the applications of mercury to Annex III of the RoHS Directive. All effective exemptions in Annex III and Annex IV are listed in the following tables.
Exemptions in Annex III of 2011/65/EU for all EEE
Notes:
- The exemption of which an application for renewal was submitted in due time is under evaluation. The existing exemption shall remain valid until a decision on the renewal application is taken by the Commission. In the event that the application for renewal of an exemption is rejected or that an exemption is revoked, the exemption shall expire at the earliest 12 months after the date of the decision. If the application is accepted, the period of validity shall be issued.
- The exemption of which no application for renewal was submitted in due time, only applies to in vitro diagnostic medical devices in category 8, industrial monitoring and control instruments in category 9 and category 11, other subcategories have expired. In vitro diagnostic medical devices are valid until July 21, 2023, industrial monitoring and control instruments and category 11 equipment are valid until July 21, 2024.
1. Mercury in single capped (compact) fluorescent lamps not exceeding (per burner):
| EXEMPTION | EXPIRY DATE |
|---|---|
| a.For general lighting purposes < 30 W: 2.5 mg | February 24, 2023 |
| b.For general lighting purposes ≥ 30 W and < 50 W: 3.5 mg | |
| c.For general lighting purposes ≥ 50 W and <150 W: 5 mg | |
| d.For general lighting purposes ≥ 150 W: 15 mg | |
| e.For general lighting purposes with circular or square structural shape and tube diameter ≤ 17 mm: 7 mg | |
| f.i. For lamps designed to emit mainly light in the ultraviolet spectrum: 5 mg | February 24, 2025 (New) |
| f.ii. For special purposes: 5 mg | |
| g.For general lighting purposes < 30 W with a lifetime equal or above 20 000 h: 3,5 mg | August 24, 2023 |
2a.Mercury in double-capped linear fluorescent lamps for general lighting purposes not exceeding (per lamp):
| EXEMPTION | EXPIRY DATE |
|---|---|
| i.Tri-band phosphor with normal lifetime and a tube diameter < 9 mm (e.g. T2): 4 mg | February 24, 2023 |
| ii.Tri-band phosphor with normal lifetime and a tube diameter ≥ 9 mm and ≤ 17 mm (e.g. T5): 3 mg | August 24, 2023 |
| iii.Tri-band phosphor with normal lifetime and a tube diameter >17 mm and ≤ 28 mm (e.g. T8): 3.5 mg | |
| iv.Tri-band phosphor with normal lifetime and a tube diameter > 28 mm (e.g. T12): 3.5 mg may be used per lamp | February 24, 2023 |
| v.Tri-band phosphor with long lifetime (≥ 25 000 h): 5 mg |
2b.Mercury in other fluorescent lamps not exceeding (per lamp):
| EXEMPTION | EXPIRY DATE |
|---|---|
| iii.Non-linear tri-band phosphor lamps with tube diameter > 17 mm (e.g. T9): 15 mg | February 24, 2023 |
| iv.Non-linear tri-band phosphor lamps with tube diameter > 17 mm (e.g. T9): 10 mg | February 24, 2025 (New, becomes effective on February 25, 2023) |
1.Lamps for other general lighting and special purposes (e.g. induction lamps): 15 mg | February 24, 2025 |
2.Lamps emitting mainly light in the ultraviolet spectrum: 15 mg | February 24, 2027 (New) |
3.Emergency lamps: 15 mg |
3.Mercury in cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode fluorescent lamps (CCFL and EEFL) for special purposes not exceeding (per lamp):
| EXEMPTION | EXPIRY DATE |
|---|---|
| a)Short length (≤ 500 mm): 3,5 mg | February 24, 2025 |
| b)Medium length (>500 mm and ≤ 1500 mm): 5 mg | |
| c)Long length (> 1500 mm): 13 mg |
| EXEMPTION | EXPIRY DATE |
|---|---|
| 4a. Mercury in other low pressure discharge lamps (per lamp): 15 mg | February 24, 2023 |
i.Mercury in low pressure non-phosphor coated discharge lamps (per lamp), where the application requires the main range of the lamp-spectral output to be in the ultraviolet spectrum: 15 mg | February 24, 2027 (New) |
4b.Mercury in High Pressure Sodium (vapour) lamps for general lighting purposes not exceeding (per burner) in lamps with improved colour rendering index Ra > 60:
| EXEMPTION | EXPIRY DATE |
|---|---|
| i.P ≤ 155 W: 30 mg | February 24, 2023 |
| ii.155 W <P ≤ 405 W: 40 mg | |
| iii.P > 405 W: 40 mg |
| EXEMPTION | EXPIRY DATE |
|---|---|
| 4b. Mercury in High Pressure Sodium (vapour) lamps for general lighting purposes not exceeding (per burner) in lamps with improved colour rendering index Ra > 80: P ≤ 105 W: 16 mg | February 24, 2027 (New) |
4c.Mercury in other High-Pressure Sodium (vapour) lamps for general lighting purposes not exceeding (per burner):
| EXEMPTION | EXPIRY DATE |
|---|---|
| i.P ≤ 155 W: 25 mg | February 24, 2027 |
| ii.155 W <P ≤ 405 W: 30mg | |
| iii.P > 405 W: 40m |
| EXEMPTION | EXPIRY DATE |
|---|---|
| 4e. Mercury in metal halide lamps (MH) | February 24, 2027 |
| EXEMPTION | EXPIRY DATE |
|---|---|
| 4f.i. Mercury in other discharge lamps for special purposes not specifically mentioned in this Annex | February 24, 2025 (New) |
| 4f.ii. Mercury in high pressure mercury vapour lamps used in projectors where an output ≥ 2000 lumen ANSI is required | February 24, 2027 (New) |
| 4f.iii. Mercury in high pressure sodium vapour lamps used for horticulture lighting | |
| 4f.iv. Mercury in lamps emitting light in the ultraviolet spectrum |
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