RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) is an EU-originated directive that limits ten toxic materials—most famously lead—in electrical and electronic equipment. Every product page on OnlineComponents.com displays the part’s RoHS status (and a downloadable certificate when available) so buyers can confidently meet environmental and regulatory requirements.
Important Notes
- RoHS status is shown on every product page
- Part numbers ending in “R”, “LF”, or “-RoHS” are functionally identical to the base part but built with lead-free materials.
- If a product is not explicitly labeled RoHS compliant, treat it as non-compliant and handle accordingly.
Index
I. What Is RoHS?
II. Why Does RoHS Matter?
III. Where to Find RoHS Information on a Product Page
IV. Decoding Part-Number Variations
V. Additional Resources
I. What Is RoHS?
The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive began in the EU to remove lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, and PBDE from electronics. Later revisions added four phthalates, bringing the total to ten restricted substances.
II. Why Does RoHS Matter?
- Environmental protection – prevents heavy-metal pollution in landfills and manufacturing waste streams.
- Legal compliance – mandatory for products sold in the EU and adopted by many global OEMs.
- Market access & customer trust – many companies will not qualify components without documented RoHS compliance.
III. Where to Find RoHS Information on a Product Page
- Open the desired part page.
- Locate the green RoHS Compliant badge beneath the part description.
- If you do not see a badge, assume the part is not RoHS compliant.
- For additional questions or resources, please reach out to Customer Service.
IV. Decoding Part-Number Variations
| Suffix | Meaning | Impact on Function |
| -R, -LF, -RoHS | RoHS-compliant / lead-free version | None – electrical and mechanical specs unchanged |
| (no suffix) | Legacy version produced before RoHS conversion | May contain restricted substances |
Note: Always specify the suffix when ordering to ensure you receive the compliant version.
V. Additional Resources
- EU RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU
- U.S. Restriction of Hazardous Substances Act summary
- Wikipedia overview of RoHS
Following this guide ensures you source components that meet global environmental regulations and satisfy your customers’ quality requirements.