Facts and figures

Facts and figures

Restrictions of lead

RoHS, REACH and more – Why lead-free metals and their products secure your future developments

Lead is a material with special properties that continues to play an important role in industry. On the other hand, lead is a toxic heavy metal that should be minimized in the environment. Well-known OEMs are therefore already demanding and successfully using lead-free alternatives. The reasons for this are the increasing costs and risks associated with the use of lead. These additional effort is reflected in various regulations and directives worldwide:

RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances)

The EU RoHS 2011/65/EU Directive aims to restrict the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. This is intended to minimize the release of these substances into the environment. Lead, as a substance subject to restrictions under Article 4(1) of the RoHS Directive, has a defined maximum allowable concentration of 0.1 % by weight in homogeneous materials.

Exemption 6c of Annex III allows "copper alloys containing up to 4% lead by mass." This exemption actually expires on July 21, 2021. As the responsible EU Commission has not yet announced a decision on a possible extension, the exemption remains valid until further notice. Details and the current status of the exemption are summarized in the following FAQs.

Note: All Powerelements from Würth Elektronik ICS are RoHS compliant. The original Powerelements are RoHS compliant according to the exemption Annex III, 6c. The lead-free LF Powerelements are RoHS compliant without exemption and therefore a future-proof solution.

ELV (End of Life Vehicles) Directive

The aim of the "End of Life Vehicles Directive" is to ensure that the materials and components of vehicles placed on the market are as environmentally friendly as possible and do not contain, for example, lead, mercury, cadmium or hexavalent chromium. For lead, a limit of up to 0.1 % by weight applies. Exemption 3 allows copper alloys containing up to 4% lead.

In the Official Journal of the European Union of March 10, 2023 on the "Amendment of Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles" announced a review of the exemption in 2025.

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals)

REACH is a European Union regulation (EC No. 1907/2006) aimed at protecting human health and the environment from potential risks posed by chemicals. In 2018, lead was added to the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). According to Article 33 of the REACH Regulation, this results in an information obligation along the supply chain. If semi-finished or other products have been manufactured from copper alloys containing more than 0.1% lead, this must be indicated on delivery. The usability and applicability of products with copper alloys containing lead remains unaffected by the inclusion in the candidate list until further notice.

Note: Würth Elektronik ICS will indicate the lead content of >0.1 % fon the delivery documents for the non-lead-free Original Powerelements. 

RoHS future scenarios

A look into the future – impact of the RoHS decision on your projects

Diagram showing the scenario analysis for the extension of exemption 6c of the RoHS Directive in English (as of Q3 2024)

 

RoHS exemption 6c would actually have expired on July 21, 2021, for equipment categories 1-7 and 10 as well as partially for categories 8 and 9. However, some applications to extend the exemption were submitted on time. For this reason, exemption 6c will remain valid until the EU Commission has decided on these applications.

The Öko-Institut e.V. is currently examining the necessity and scope of an extension of the exemption. The Öko-Institut's report is an important scientific basis for the EU Commission's decision. A decision by the EU Commission is still pending. The following factors are decisive for the decision:

  • For appliance categories 1 to 7 and 10, the exemption can be extended for a maximum of five years.
  • For device categories 8 and 9 for a maximum of seven years.
  • An official extension of the Recording Directive is possible and would apply from the expiry date, 21.07.2021.
  • After expiry, the EU Commission can set a so-called sunset phase, a transitional period of 12 to 18 months.

Taking this into account, our experts expect an extension of five years. This means that the expiry dateof the exemption would be July 21, 2026, meaning that the sunset phase would end at the beginning of the product life cycle and components with lead-containing electronic components would no longer be allowed to be sold and installed. This would mean a re-qualification of the products already developed, which would be associated with extensive time and cost expenditure.

Our experts believe that a further extension beyond the five years is currently unlikely due to existing trends and therefore recommend that the switch to lead-free alternatives should be considered now. Lead-free components should always be used for new developments.

Let us advise you nowand stay future-proof!

FAQs on lead restrictions

For all categories of equipment, applications for renewal of the exemption were submitted in due time (at least 18 months before the expiry of the exemptions under Article 5 (5) of the RoHS Directive. Until the EU Commission decides on these applications, exemption 6c will remain valid.


According to Article 5 (5) of the RoHS Directive, the European Commission shall decide on an application no later than six months before the expiry of an existing exemption [...], unless special circumstances justify a different deadline.

According to Article 5 (2) of the RoHS Directive, equipment categories 1 to 7 and 10 can be extended for a maximum of 5 years from the original end date (21.07.2021). New end date would then be 21.07.2026 plus possible phase-out period.

Categories 8 and 9 may be extended for a maximum of seven years from the original end date (21.07.2021). The new end date would then be 21.07.2028 plus a possible sunset phase.

However, according to Article 5 (2), the EU Commission can also specify a shorter period. Under discussion is an extension for an period of five years. The end date of the exemption would then be 21.07.2024 plus a possible sunset phase.


Due to the current high use of leaded brass, an early start of the sunset phase and thus a ban on lead does not seem realistic at this time. Therefore, a further extension is very likely. This will then be retroactive to the respective presumed phase-out date and will presumably differentiate between the individual appliance classes.

The Öko-Institut has issued a recommendation to extend exemption 6c for all equipment classes until July 21, 2026. The "RoHS Umbrella Project" recommends an extension for selected equipment classes (8, 9 & 11). The analyses, reports and recommendations will serve as the basis for a decision by the responsible EU Commission. This decision is currently still pending.

We as Würth Elektronik ICS assume that there will be no further extension after July 21, 2026.


From the point of view of the experts at Würth Elektronik ICS: Absolutely! Many projects have a total duration of several years from development to "end of life", whether in the automotive, electronics, industrial or commercial vehicle sectors. With lead-free LF Powerelements, you are ready for the future. Costly re-qualifications are avoided, process reliability for new developments is created and well-known OEMs, who already demand and successfully use lead-free products, can be served without any problems.


The global trend is clear: the use of lead is being steadily reduced. Examples include:

WEEE (Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment)

To reduce or completely avoid waste from electrical and electronic equipment, there is the WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU. Among other things, it provides for recycling and reuse, and creates the legal framework to collect the equipment and properly recycle its raw materials properly recycled. Although the directive does not ban toxic metals and heavy metals, it does ensure that the cost of their disposal continues to rise.

Other similar regulations are being implemented around the world, e.g.:

California Proposition 65

Companies operating in California (USA) must be aware of and comply with the guidelines of California Proposition 65 (Prop 65), also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. The law lists more than 800 chemicals "known to the state to cause cancer or birth defects and other reproductive harm." Lead is on the Proposition 65 list. Prop 65 is a "consumer's right to know." Unless companies are exempt from compliance, they must provide a "clear and conspicuous warning" if their products may expose people to the listed chemicals. Similarly, they must warn the public if they discharge listed chemicals into drinking water sources.

China RoHS 2 (GB/T 26572-2011 Label: SJ/T11364-2014)

A concentration limit of 0.1 % lead applies to all electrical and electronic products covered by the directive in the People's Republic of China. If this value is exceeded, labeling is required for B2C business.

Korea RoHS

South Korea passed the "Act for Resource of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles" - commonly referred to as Korea RoHS - back in 2007. This law largely adopts the EU's directives RoHS, WEEE and ELV (End-of-Life Vehicles Directive).


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