2013 rings in new RoHS Recast compliance rules for European electronics industry

CHICAGO, Dec. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Farnell advises electronics organizations to be aware of the new obligations of RoHS legislation which come into force on January 2, 2013 for any global companies shipping equipment into Europe.

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The leading global distributor of electronic components and parent company of Newark element14 and the award-winning element14 engineering Community, advises that the scope of the new legislation, called RoHS Recast 2011/65/EU, now covers items dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields to fulfil at least one intended function.  For example, the legislation now captures gas cookers with an electric clock and petrol lawnmowers with an electric ignition need to comply from July 2019.

The responsibility for ensuring these new items comply and meet the CE obligations can sit with the manufacturer, importer or distributor. Depending on where a company sits in the supply chain there will be obligations around the provision of many new documents, including a Technical File and declaration-of-compliance.

Components which do not fall within the scope of RoHS will have to be compliant if used in the manufacture of equipment that is in scope. As with RoHS1, a certificate-of-compliance will be required.

Member States had 18 months to transpose into national law and the directive becomes effective on January 2, 2013. Following this, further product categories will be phased in from medical devices and monitoring and control instruments in July 2014: In Vitro Diagnostics in July 2016, industrial monitoring and control instruments in July 2017 with all EEE not captured in categories 1 to 10 following in July 2019, classed as 'category 11.'

Gary Nevison, Head of Legislation & Compliance at Premier Farnell, said: "We are keenly watching semiconductor development kits, the impact of the RoHS Recast 2011/65/EU and, in particular, the implications of the CE mark. Development boards are clearly finished products according to the Blue Guide's definition, the European Commission's guidance on how to implement new approach directives, as they are simply plugged in to other equipment to make them work. All Member State enforcement authorities consider them in scope.

"Many manufacturers of development boards make them RoHS compliant, but there are several notable exceptions that now need to work on ensuring their products are compliant and, from January, actively provide all the necessary documentation as part of their CE obligations."

Premier Farnell has been an industry leader on legislation offering guidance and support to its customers since the RoHS inception.  The element14 Community now holds a wealth of useful information and resources on all areas of relevant industry legislation including a revised FAQ document on the new RoHS legislation from the EC.

About Premier Farnell
Premier Farnell plc (LSE:pfl) is a global leader in high service distribution of technology products and solutions for electronic system design, maintenance and repair. Its differentiated proposition includes 29 local language transactional websites, and the critically important element14 Community for design engineers – an industry first (www.element14.com). With sales last year of £973.1m and underlying profits of £104.6m the Group distributes its comprehensive portfolio of products and services throughout Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, supported by a global supply chain of over 3,500 suppliers and an inventory profile developed to anticipate and meet its customers' needs.

While global in scope, Premier Farnell recognises the individual needs of each market and has continued to internationalise its model accordingly. It trades locally as Farnell in Europe, Newark/element14 in North America and Mexico and Farnell Newark in Brazil. Across Asia Pacific the business trades as element14.

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Premier Farnell plc
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SOURCE Premier Farnell