EU - Amendment on Annex III to the RoHS 2 Directive

The European Commission received an application for the exemption of the use of lead and hexavalent chromium compounds, which are restricted under Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2), in electric and electronic initiators (EEI) of explosives for civil (professional) use in January 2018.

It is because certain lead and hexavalent chromium compounds are used in essential parts of electric and electronic initiators (EEI), such as electric fuseheads, primary explosive charges and pyrotechnic delay charges. EEI are a part of electric and electronic detonators that are primarily used for mining of minerals, construction and demolition activities, as well as in components of integrated rescue systems and there are no alternative available on the market which would meet all essential requirements in order to ensure safe operation of EEI. Moreover, the exemption is considered to be consistent with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) without weakening the environmental and health protection.

Therefore, the Commission granted the requested exemption and amended Annex III to EU RoHS 2 Directive by adding a new entry in that Annex with respective to electrical and electronic equipment of category 11.

45 Lead diazide, lead styphnate, lead dipicramate, orange lead (lead tetroxide), lead dioxide in electric and electronic initiators of explosives for civil (professional) use and barium chromate in long time pyrotechnic delay charges of electric initiators of explosives for civil (professional) use​.

Applies to category 11 and expires on April 20, 2026