The European RoHS Directive

EC Directive 2002/95/EC on the Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (commonly known as the RoHS Directive) required the phase out of 6 substances in domestic appliances and consumer electronic products put on the European market from 1 July 2006. The 6 substances are 4 heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium) and 2 categories of brominated flame retardants (PBB - polybrominated biphenyls and PBDE - polybrominated diphenyl ethers*).

Samsung Electronics has a comprehensive RoHS compliance programme and has applied the requirements on a global basis to all relevant Samsung Electronics products. This is as a result of our commitment and ambition to find safe, feasible substitute materials. Customers requiring a formal RoHS declaration can request this via their usual commercial contact person or via the here. In addition, consumers can use the Contact Us form.

RoHS compliance in Samsung Electronics starts with our 'Standard for Substances with Environmental Impacts within Products'. This standard sets the specification for the 6 RoHS substances in addition to other hazardous substances, for example those covered by EU Directive 76/769/EC. This Standard is then implemented down the supply chain via the Samsung Electronics Eco-Partner programme.

The Eco-Partner programme ensures that all components and product parts are RoHS compliant with the standard via a combination of supplier declarations, supplier audits and in-house testing. Suppliers are required to submit test results to ensure that their product does not contain banned/restricted substances. Samsung Electronics also performs in-house tests as additional verification.

If any supplier violates our Standards, their Eco-partner certification is withdrawn. As Eco-partner certification is a basic condition of doing business with Samsung Electronics, the supplier is subsequently withdrawn from the approved supplier list.

* Note that Samsung Electronics had voluntarily phased out Deca-BDE prior to the ECJ ruling annulling the RoHS exemption for this substance.

Samsung’s Compliance with future RoHS Directives

Samsung Electronics takes a proactive approach to evaluating materials in its products to assess environmental, health or safety impacts. By acting above and beyond legal requirements, and considering cases where the scientific evidence is conflicting or not yet absolute, Samsung Electronics incorporates the precautionary principle into our approach for managing target substances. The evaluation of alternative materials is a continuous process.

We are aware of issues relating to the environmental impact of using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in electronic products. Following the precautionary principle, we have been continuing to expand the development and launch of products with reduced PVC and BFRs despite restrictions such as an immature supply market for alternative materials and issues regarding technical reliability and performance.

Samsung Electronics believes that the enactment of legislation such as updated EU RoHS Directives will play an important role in addressing problems relating to the elimination of PVC and BFRs use. Through this legislation, the industry-wide replacement of PVC and BFRs could be expedited.

Samsung Electronics will comply if the EU decides to include PVC and BFRs as restricted substances in the RoHS 2.0 amendment.

For effective implementation, Samsung Electronics suggests consideration of the following when amending the RoHS Directive:

• Technical availability of alternative materials or technologies when establishing the appropriate scope of the target products.

• Reasonable transition periods, lead times and exemptions which consider socioeconomic factors and allow for industry preparation and the establishment of supply chains.

While an environment conducive to the elimination of PVC and BFR use is being established, whether through legislation or supply chain formation, Samsung Electronics will continue to eliminate PVC and BFRs according to our internal plans with consideration of relevant industry and market status and conditions.