RoHS – EU Directive 2011/65/EU
EU Directive Requirement – The Directive requires that the homogeneous materials within new electrical and electronic equipment must contain less than 0.1% by weight of lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and less than 0.01% Cadmium. A list of exemptions for the use of the above substances in specific items is given in Annexes III and IV of Directive 2011/65/EU. The Directive also allows some additional, broader exemptions, for example equipment intended for Military purposes.
Ardwolf’s Statement – Ardwolf is a distributor and most of our products are outside the scope of Directive 2011/65/EU either because they are components or as they are specifically manufactured for use in the military or aerospace sectors, we are committed to helping our customers find information regarding RoHS in order to reduce or eliminate hazardous substances, including using substitutes as and when they become available to the industry.
REACH Compliance
REACH regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 is legislation on chemicals and their safe use, and came into force in June 2007. REACH is aimed at improving the protection of human health and the environment through better and earlier identification of the properties of chemical substances as well as progressive substitution of the most dangerous chemicals when suitable alternatives have been identified.
Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs)
Under REACH, the most hazardous substances on the market are gradually being added to a list known as the ‘Candidate List,’ with the view of ensuring their use is correctly controlled, and that safer alternatives are found as soon as possible. The substances on this list are termed ‘Substances of Very High Concern’ (SVHCs). Cadmium was added to the Candidate List, and hence became a SVHC, on 6/20/2013.
Article 33 of REACH
Article 33 requires that any supplier of an article in the EU containing SVHCs above the threshold of 0.1% weight by weight must provide sufficient information to the customer to allow safe use of the article.
The relevance of SVHCs
A number of products that Ardwolf supplies are cadmium-plated, and hence contain more than 0.1% by weight of cadmium, an SVHC. Ardwolf is committed to helping our customers identify parts that contain cadmium and providing information to allow safe use of the substance.
REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006
Ardwolf has been actively monitoring the specifics of the REACH requirements since the EU adoption of Regulation No 1907/2006 on 18 December 2006 supporting in full its aim at
improving the protection of human health and the environment through the better and earlier identification of the intrinsic properties of chemical substances.
This letter is to reassure our valued Customers that Ardwolf meets applicable REACH requirements and it is committed to provide our Customers with information about SVHCs
(Substances of Very Hich Concern) in articles as required. If articles contain SVHCs above the concentration limit of 0.1 % on an article level, the manufacturer, who is the only source of reliable information about the chemical substances
used in their products, must inform downstream users these substances, even if the chemical substance will not be released under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.
In such a case, to the best of its knowledge, Ardwolf will pass on information along the supply chain in accordance with Article 33 of the REACH Directive through a specific notification statement made available on business documents at part level. Any information supplied by Ardwolf in relation to SVHCs is provided “as is” according to information given by the Manufacturers of the articles, without any warranty whatsoever, such as all warranties implied in law, including the warranties of merchantability and suitability for a particular purpose. Use of data is at customer’s sole risk.
Ardwolf is monitoring all new developments and obligations regarding REACH and Annex XIV (the “Candidate list”). In case of changes which affect our obligations towards our Customers, we will update our policy accordingly.
Be assured that your business is greatly valued by Ardwolf and that Ardwolf will do everything within its power to provide you with the highest level of service and support.