In just one year, on the 22nd of July 2014, the RoHS Recast Directive for manufacturers and importers of medical devices will become law and all devices must be compliant or lose their CE mark.

It is hard to believe that it has been eleven years since Europe exported the RoHS Directive and the TV show American Idol to the United States.  I find it interesting that over a decade later both are being re-branded to reach new markets and objectives.  American Idol recently leveraged its loyal base of followers to successfully spawn the new hit show the X Factor and the RoHS Directive, well let’s just say it has been on a different journey.

Way back in 2002 the Commission of the European Union (EU) passed legislation
restricting the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC) and promoting the collection and recycling of such equipment (WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC). The legislation provided for the creation of collection schemes where consumers can return their used e-waste free of charge with an objective of increasing Continue reading →