Report concludes RoHS Directive “continues to respond to needs” and supports the Circular Economy. The report estimates that the Directive reduced restricted substances in EEE by two-thirds (2003-2016). It underlines that the list of restricted substances should regularly be updated and notes that a clearer methodology and consultation process should be defined for this (in coherence with REACH). It is considered that the use of groups of substances in the restrictions list of RoHS is considered positive (rather than lists of individual substances). Restrictions of substances in EEE are considered to facilitate recycling (by avoiding use of chemicals which become restricted), despite a WEEE collection rate of below 50% in the EU (2020). It is also proposed to define beneficial conditions for recycled materials (lighter restrictions for some substances). The report notes overlap between RoHS and other EU chemicals legislation, in particular the WEEE Directive, REACH, EcoDesign and POP. It is proposed to reattributed RoHS list chemical assessments to ECHA, in line with the ”One chemical one assessment” approach (see above).
European Commission report on the review of Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, SWD(2023) 760, 7th December 2023 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/report-review-directive-restriction-use-certain-hazardous-substances-electrical-and-electronic_en