EU RoHS Annex III Lead Exemptions
Seven exemption groups have been approved for the use of lead in certain applications under EU RoHS Annex III for a few more years, summarized and detailed below:
Lead Category Exemption Deadlines
July 21, 2021: All categories except for Category 8 in-vitro diagnostic medical devices, Category 9 industrial monitoring & control instruments, Category 11 products
July 21, 2023: Category 8 in-vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDs)
July 21, 2024: Category 9 industrial monitoring & control instruments; Category 11 products
Lead Exemption Table
Exemption | Application | Category | Deadline |
6a | Lead up to 0.35% by weight in alloyed steel (for machining) and galvanized steel | Categories 8, 9 (except for in-vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring & control instruments) | 21 Jul, 2021 |
Category 8 in-vitro diagnostic medical devices | 21 Jul, 2023 | ||
Category 9 industrial monitoring & control; Category 11 | 21 Jul, 2024 | ||
6a-1 | Lead up to 0.35% by weight in alloyed steel (for machining) and up to 0.2% lead by weight in batch hot-dip galvanized steel | Categories 1-7 and 10 | 21 Jul, 2021 |
6b | Lead up to 0.4% lead by weight in aluminium alloys | Categories 8, 9 (except for in-vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring & control instruments) | 21 Jul, 2021 |
Category 8 in-vitro diagnostic medical devices | 21 Jul, 2023 | ||
Category 9 industrial monitoring & control instruments; Category 11 | 21 Jul, 2024 | ||
6b-I | Lead up to 0.4% lead by weight in recycled scrap aluminium alloys | Categories 1-7 and 10 | 21 Jul, 2021 |
6b-II | Lead up to 0.4% lead by weight in aluminium alloys for machining | Categories 1-7 and 10 | |
6c | Lead up to 0.4% lead by weight in copper alloys | Categories 1-7 and 10 | 21 Jul, 2021 |
Categories 8, 9 (except for in-vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring & control instruments) | 21 Jul, 2021 | ||
Category 8 in-vitro diagnostic medical devices | 21 Jul, 2023 | ||
Category 9 industrial monitoring & control instruments; Category 11 | 21 Jul, 2024 | ||
7a | Lead up to 85% by weight in high-temperature solder alloys | Categories 1-7 and 10 (except for Exemption 24 capacitor applications) | 21 Jul, 2021 |
Categories 8, 9 (except for in-vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring & control instruments) | 21 Jul, 2021 | ||
Category 8 in-vitro diagnostic medical devices | 21 Jul, 2023 | ||
Category 9 industrial monitoring & control instruments; Category 11 | 21 Jul, 2024 | ||
7c-I | Lead in glass or ceramics (including matrix compounds) other than for capacitor dielectrics (such as piezoelectronic devices) | Categories 1-7 and 10 (except for Exemption 24 potentiometer applications) | 21 Jul, 2021 |
Categories 8 and 9 (except for in-vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring & control instruments) | 21 Jul, 2021 | ||
Category 8 in-vitro diagnostic medical devices | 21 Jul, 2023 | ||
Category 9 industrial monitoring & control instruments; Category 11 | 21 Jul, 2024 | ||
24 | Lead in solders for machined through-hole discoidal and planar array ceramic multilayer capacitors | Categories 1-7 and 10 | 21 Jul, 2021 |
Categories 8 and 9 (except for in-vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring & control instruments) | 21 Jul, 2021 | ||
Category 8 in-vitro diagnostic medical devices | 21 Jul, 2023 | ||
Category 9 industrial monitoring & control instruments; Category 11 | 21 Jul, 2024 | ||
34 | Lead in cermet-based trimmer potentiometer elements | Categories 1-7 and 10 | 21 Jul, 2021 |
Categories 8 and 9 (except for in-vitro diagnostic medical devices and industrial monitoring & control instruments) | 21 Jul, 2021 | ||
Category 8 in-vitro diagnostic medical devices | 21 Jul, 2023 | ||
Category 9 industrial monitoring & control instruments; Category 11 | 21 Jul, 2024 |