--- title: "What should teams do before a RoHS exemption expires?" canonical_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/exemption-expiry" source_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/exemption-expiry" author: "Sorena AI" description: "How to handle EU RoHS exemption expiry: confirm the Annex entry, renewal deadline, pending-decision status, fallback plan, and technical-file evidence." published_at: "2026-05-09" updated_at: "2026-05-09" keywords: - "RoHS exemption expiry" - "EU RoHS exemption renewal" - "Annex III exemptions" - "Annex IV exemptions" - "RoHS 18 months" - "EU RoHS Directive" - "RoHS" - "RoHS Exemptions" - "RoHS FAQ" --- **[SORENA](https://www.sorena.io/)** - AI-Powered GRC Platform [Home](https://www.sorena.io/) | [Solutions](https://www.sorena.io/solutions) | [Artifacts](https://www.sorena.io/artifacts) | [About Us](https://www.sorena.io/about-us) | [Contact](https://www.sorena.io/contact) | [Portal](https://app.sorena.io) --- # What should teams do before a RoHS exemption expires? How to handle EU RoHS exemption expiry: confirm the Annex entry, renewal deadline, pending-decision status, fallback plan, and technical-file evidence. *FAQ* *EU* ## RoHS FAQ Exemption Expiry RoHS exemptions are application-specific, time-limited exceptions listed in Annex III or Annex IV. An expiry review should start from the exact Annex entry, EEE category, material use, and renewal status. Use this FAQ to decide what to verify before relying on an exemption after its expiry date approaches. Before a RoHS exemption expires, identify the exact Annex III or Annex IV entry, confirm whether the product category and application still match the wording, check whether a renewal application was made no later than 18 months before expiry, and document the substitute, redesign, or withdrawal plan if the exemption is not renewed. ## What should teams do before a RoHS exemption expires? Start with the legal entry, not with a supplier statement. RoHS exemptions are tied to a listed application in Annex III or Annex IV, and the Directive allows those lists to be adapted to scientific and technical progress. For each product that depends on an exemption, record the Annex entry number, exact wording, EEE category, restricted substance, homogeneous material or component use, expiry date, renewal status, and technical-file evidence. If the application no longer matches the exemption wording, treat the product as needing a new compliance path. Do not build a current-status table unless it is sourced from the current consolidated Directive, the official Commission exemptions list, or the delegated directive that changed the relevant entry. - Assign one owner to verify the current Annex wording and expiry date against the official source. - Confirm whether a renewal application was filed at least 18 months before the exemption expires. - If no renewal is available or the renewal is rejected, prepare a redesign, substitution, qualification, or market-withdrawal decision before the transition period ends. - Keep the expiry review with the EU declaration of conformity, technical documentation, supplier evidence, and change-control record. Sources for this answer: - [Directive 2011/65/EU on restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Consolidated RoHS source for Article 5 exemptions, Annex III, Annex IV, renewal timing, and pending-decision validity. - [European Commission - RoHS Directive implementation](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/rohs-directive/rohs-directive-implementation_en?ref=sorena.io) - Commission source for exemption procedure timing, current evaluation stages, renewal requests, and official exemption materials. - [Directive (EU) 2017/2102 amending RoHS exemption validity rules](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32017L2102&ref=sorena.io) - Amending directive that clarified maximum validity periods and pending renewal process details. ## How RoHS exemption timing works Article 5 sets the renewal clock. A renewal application must be submitted no later than 18 months before the exemption expires, and the existing exemption remains valid until the Commission takes a decision on that renewal application. The Commission implementation page states that RoHS exemption decisions currently take 18 to 24 months from the application date. It also describes the evaluation sequence: technical and scientific assessment with stakeholder consultation, draft delegated act feedback, WTO Technical Barriers to Trade notification, and European Parliament and Council scrutiny. The maximum validity period depends on the Annex and category. For Annex III exemptions listed as at 21 July 2011, unless a shorter period is specified, RoHS sets 5 years for categories 1 to 7 and 10, 7 years for categories 8 and 9 from the relevant Article 4(3) dates, and 5 years for category 11 from 22 July 2019. Annex IV exemptions listed as at 21 July 2011 have a renewable maximum validity period of 7 years from the relevant Article 4(3) dates unless a shorter period is specified. - Use the specific Annex entry to calculate the practical review date; do not assume one expiry rule covers every exemption. - Open an independent review before the 18-month renewal deadline so engineering can assess substitutes and procurement can qualify suppliers. - When a renewal is pending, record the application reference and Commission process source rather than relying on an informal status note. - When a delegated directive changes an entry, update product files, supplier requests, and customer-facing compliance statements together. Sources for this answer: - [Directive 2011/65/EU on restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Consolidated Article 5 text for maximum validity periods, renewal applications, and validity while a renewal decision is pending. - [European Commission - RoHS Directive implementation](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/rohs-directive/rohs-directive-implementation_en?ref=sorena.io) - Commission source for practical exemption decision timing and evaluation procedure steps. ## Evidence to keep with an exemption-expiry review A useful record should let a reviewer see why the product can still be placed on the EU market, or why it needs redesign before the exemption lapses. Keep the decision tied to the exact exemption wording and product configuration. For technical documentation, EN IEC 63000 is the harmonised standard cited for assessing electrical and electronic products with respect to restricted substances. Use it as the structure for supplier evidence, material declarations, test reports where needed, and the rationale for relying on an exemption. - Current Annex III or Annex IV source used for the expiry date and wording. - Product, component, material, and EEE category mapping showing why the exemption applies. - Supplier declarations, material declarations, test reports, or engineering analysis supporting the restricted-substance position. - Renewal application status, Commission decision status, or rejection transition-period note if relevant. - Substitution or redesign assessment, including why immediate substitution is or is not technically practicable for the application. Sources for this answer: - [Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/659 on EN IEC 63000](https://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2020/659/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Official source citing EN IEC 63000 for RoHS technical documentation. - [European Commission - Guidance document for RoHS exemption requests](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/document/download/f1f65e3d-1b90-4dd1-a0d4-797bd6cabe98_en?filename=Guidance_Document.pdf&ref=sorena.io) - Commission-hosted guidance for exemption request format, criteria, and documentation. - [European Commission - RoHS Directive implementation](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/rohs-directive/rohs-directive-implementation_en?ref=sorena.io) - Commission source linking the official exemptions list, guidance document, and application form. ## Common expiry mistakes The main risk is treating an old exemption reference as a standing permission. RoHS exemptions can be renewed, amended, or deleted, and the Commission reassesses them against substitution, health, environmental, consumer-safety, socioeconomic, and innovation considerations. A supplier declaration is not enough if it only says the part is RoHS compliant. The declaration must connect the part, material, substance, and exemption wording that the finished product relies on. - Do not use an expired Annex entry without checking whether a renewal application keeps it valid pending a Commission decision. - Do not reuse an exemption for a different product category, material application, or substance unless the Annex wording actually covers it. - Do not cite local files, scraped filenames, or private working notes as public sources; cite the official external URL used for the decision. - Do not wait for the listed expiry date before starting redesign work; the Commission page reports that decisions currently take 18 to 24 months. Sources for this answer: - [European Commission - RoHS Directive implementation](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/rohs-directive/rohs-directive-implementation_en?ref=sorena.io) - Commission source for exemption assessment factors, renewal timing, and current decision-duration guidance. - [Directive 2011/65/EU on restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Binding source for Article 5 exemption conditions and deletion where conditions are no longer fulfilled. ## Primary sources - [Directive 2011/65/EU on restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Consolidated RoHS source for Article 5 exemptions, Annex III, Annex IV, renewal timing, and pending-decision validity. - Quote: "An application for renewal of an exemption shall be made no later than 18 months before the exemption expires." - [European Commission - RoHS Directive implementation](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/rohs-directive/rohs-directive-implementation_en?ref=sorena.io) - Commission source for exemption procedure timing, reassessment factors, official exemption materials, and pending-renewal handling. - Quote: "Existing exemptions for which a renewal request has been submitted remain valid until a decision is taken by the Commission." - [Directive (EU) 2017/2102 amending RoHS exemption validity rules](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32017L2102&ref=sorena.io) - Amending directive that clarified maximum validity periods and renewal process details. - Quote: "the maximum validity period, which may be renewed" - [Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/659 on EN IEC 63000](https://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2020/659/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Official source citing EN IEC 63000 for RoHS technical documentation. - Quote: "technical documentation required for assessing materials" - [European Commission - Guidance document for RoHS exemption requests](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/document/download/f1f65e3d-1b90-4dd1-a0d4-797bd6cabe98_en?filename=Guidance_Document.pdf&ref=sorena.io) - Commission-hosted guidance for exemption request format, criteria, and documentation. - Quote: "existing list of exemptions and the scope of RoHS 2 are always subject to changes" ## Topic Guides - [Are cables in scope of EU RoHS? Cable evidence, CE marking, and DoC FAQ](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/cables.md): EU RoHS cable FAQ covering when cables are EEE, how internal and external cables are treated, when separate CE marking and a DoC are needed, and what evidence to keep. - [Do Components Need EU RoHS Compliance? | RoHS FAQ](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/components.md): RoHS FAQ for components in electrical and electronic equipment: substance restrictions, homogeneous materials, CE marking, technical files, exemptions, and supplier evidence. - [EN IEC 63000 RoHS Technical Documentation](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/en-iec-63000-technical-documentation.md): source-linked guide to EN IEC 63000:2018 technical documentation for EU RoHS, including manufacturer duties, evidence records, harmonised-standard status, and file maintenance. - [EU RoHS Annex III and IV exemptions guide](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/annex-iii-and-iv-exemptions.md): How to use, renew, or challenge EU RoHS Annex III and Annex IV exemptions, with Article 5 criteria, timing rules, and evidence requirements. - [EU RoHS Applicability Test for EEE Scope](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/applicability-test.md): Decide whether EU RoHS applies to electrical and electronic equipment, cables, spare parts, exclusions, exemptions, CE marking, and evidence records. - [EU RoHS CE Marking and Declaration of Conformity](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/ce-and-doc.md): source-linked guide to RoHS CE marking, EU Declaration of Conformity, technical documentation, EN IEC 63000, and importer or distributor checks. - [EU RoHS compliance checklist for EEE](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/checklist.md): Checklist for EU RoHS scope, restricted substances, homogeneous materials, exemptions, CE marking, technical documentation, and supplier evidence. - [EU RoHS Compliance Guide for EEE](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/compliance.md): Practical EU RoHS compliance guide for electrical and electronic equipment: scope, restricted substances, exemptions, CE marking, technical documentation, and supplier evidence. - [EU RoHS Deadlines and Compliance Calendar](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/deadlines-and-compliance-calendar.md): source-linked RoHS calendar for scope phase-ins, phthalate dates, exemption renewals, spare-parts cutoffs, EN IEC 63000, CE files, and review triggers. - [EU RoHS Declarations vs Lab Tests FAQ](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/declarations-vs-lab-tests.md): When supplier declarations can support EU RoHS technical documentation, when IEC 62321 lab testing is stronger evidence, and how to document the decision. - [EU RoHS Directive FAQ: scope, substances, CE marking](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq.md): Practical EU RoHS Directive FAQ covering EEE scope, Annex II substance limits, cables, spare parts, technical documentation, CE marking, and exemptions. - [EU RoHS EEE Categories and Open Scope](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/eee-categories-and-open-scope.md): Map products to EU RoHS EEE categories, category 11 open scope, Article 2 exclusions, cables, spare parts, and evidence needed for RoHS scope decisions. - [EU RoHS for medical devices and monitoring equipment](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/medical-devices-and-monitoring-equipment.md): RoHS category 8 and 9 guide covering application dates, Annex IV exemptions, phthalates, spare parts, CE marking, declarations, and technical documentation. - [EU RoHS penalties and fines: Member State sanctions](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/penalties-and-fines.md): source-linked guide to EU RoHS penalty exposure: national sanctions, no EU-wide fine table, CE marking misuse, corrective actions, recalls, and evidence records. - [EU RoHS Phthalates: DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/phthalates.md): source-linked RoHS guide to DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP: 0.1% homogeneous-material limits, 2019 and 2021 application dates, exemptions, evidence, and testing standards. - [EU RoHS requirements for EEE, substances, and CE evidence](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/requirements.md): Practical EU RoHS requirements guide covering EEE scope, Annex II substance limits, exemptions, technical documentation, EU declaration of conformity, CE marking, and operator evidence. - [EU RoHS Restricted Substances and Thresholds | Annex II Limits](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/restricted-substances-and-thresholds.md): EU RoHS Annex II restricted substances and maximum concentration values by weight in homogeneous materials, including cadmium's 0.01% limit and the 0.1% limits for lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP. - [EU RoHS Spare Parts: Repair and Reuse](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/spare-parts.md): source-linked RoHS spare-parts guide covering Article 4 repair parts, reused recovered parts, closed-loop conditions, phthalate carve-outs, CE evidence, and cutoff dates. - [EU RoHS test plan selection workflow](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/test-plan-selection-workflow.md): Choose RoHS supplier evidence, EN IEC 63000 technical documentation, and IEC 62321 testing without over-testing or under-documenting restricted substances. - [How should RoHS lead, mercury, and cadmium exemptions be documented? | RoHS FAQ](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/lead-mercury-and-cadmium-exemptions.md): RoHS FAQ on documenting lead, mercury, and cadmium exemptions with Annex III or IV entries, material-level limits, expiry status, supplier evidence, and technical documentation. - [RoHS BOM evidence intake workflow](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/bom-evidence-intake-workflow.md): Build a RoHS BOM evidence intake process for EEE: map parts to homogeneous materials, collect supplier declarations, handle exemptions, and feed EN IEC 63000 technical documentation. - [RoHS exemption register workflow: expiry, renewal, evidence](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/exemption-register-workflow.md): Build a RoHS exemption register that tracks Annex III and IV entries, product scope, expiry dates, renewal status, evidence owners, and Commission source links. - [RoHS exemptions tracker guide: fields, evidence, gates](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/rohs-exemptions-tracker-guide.md): Build a RoHS exemptions tracker for Annex III and IV claims, renewal timing, supplier evidence, EN IEC 63000 documentation, and release decisions. - [RoHS Exemptions Tracking Register](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/exemptions-tracking.md): Track EU RoHS Annex III and IV exemptions by material, component, category, expiry date, renewal status, Article 5 rationale, and evidence record. - [RoHS Homogeneous Material Definition and Limits](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/homogeneous-material.md): Plain-English EU RoHS FAQ on homogeneous materials, Annex II thresholds, coatings, cables, assemblies, and evidence needed for material-level RoHS decisions. - [RoHS Homogeneous Material Thresholds](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/homogeneous-material-thresholds.md): EU RoHS guide to homogeneous material thresholds: 0.1% limits, the 0.01% cadmium limit, material splitting, coatings, samples, exemptions, and technical evidence. - [RoHS importer checks for imported EEE before EU market placement](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/imported-eee.md): Importer-focused RoHS FAQ covering CE marking, EU declaration of conformity, technical documentation availability, importer identity, nonconformity handling, and 10-year DoC retention. - [RoHS Risk-Based Testing Guide](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/risk-based-testing.md): source-linked EU RoHS guide to risk-based testing, EN IEC 63000 documentation, IEC 62321 methods, supplier evidence, and technical-file decisions. - [RoHS Supplier Change Control Workflow](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/supplier-change-control-workflow.md): source-linked EU RoHS supplier change control workflow for part substitutions, material changes, supplier declarations, testing decisions, and technical-file updates. - [RoHS Supplier Declaration Template](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/rohs-supplier-declaration-template.md): source-linked EU RoHS supplier declaration template guidance for collecting material evidence, exemption claims, test records, and EN IEC 63000 technical-file inputs. - [RoHS Supplier Declarations and Verification Guide](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/supplier-declarations-and-verification.md): Build a RoHS supplier evidence file without confusing supplier declarations with manufacturer EU DoC, CE marking, technical documentation, or importer checks. - [RoHS Supplier Declarations Guide](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/supplier-declarations.md): Use RoHS supplier declarations as supporting evidence for BOM, material, exemption, and technical-file reviews without replacing manufacturer EU DoC or CE duties. - [RoHS technical documentation, EU DoC and CE marking](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/technical-documentation-and-ce.md): source-linked guide to RoHS technical documentation, EN IEC 63000 evidence, EU declarations of conformity, CE marking, and manufacturer, importer and distributor duties. - [RoHS Timeline: practical guide](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/timeline.md): EU RoHS Directive guide to Timeline with scope decisions, owner actions, evidence records, source-linked citations, and practical next steps. - [RoHS vs Batteries Regulation scope comparison](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/rohs-vs-batteries-regulation.md): RoHS-focused comparison explaining when RoHS applies to EEE, why batteries sit outside RoHS, and what evidence should not be reused without separate battery-law support. - [RoHS vs LVD/EMC CE evidence: what belongs in the RoHS file](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/rohs-vs-lvd-emc-ce-evidence.md): Compare RoHS substance evidence with separate LVD and EMC CE evidence streams, using RoHS-grounded scope, technical file, DoC, CE marking, exemption, and supplier records. - [RoHS vs POPs for EEE substance compliance](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/rohs-vs-pops.md): Compare EU RoHS and POPs obligations for electrical and electronic equipment: scope, substances, evidence, CE files, exemptions, waste overlap, and source-linked decision rules. - [RoHS vs REACH for electronics: scope, evidence, overlap](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/rohs-vs-reach.md): Compare EU RoHS and REACH for electrical and electronic equipment: scope, restricted substances, evidence, CE marking, exemptions, and overlap decisions. - [RoHS vs WEEE: EU electronics compliance comparison](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/rohs-vs-weee.md): Compare EU RoHS restricted-substance duties with WEEE end-of-life recycling obligations, with RoHS scope, evidence, CE marking, exemptions, and source-linked decision points. - [RoHS, REACH, POPs, and batteries overlap](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/reach-pop-and-batteries-overlap.md): source-linked RoHS comparison guide for separating EEE hazardous-substance restrictions from REACH, POPs, battery, waste, and technical-file workstreams. - [What do the 0.1% and 0.01% substance limits mean under EU RoHS? | RoHS FAQ](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/0-1-and-0-01-limits.md): RoHS FAQ explaining why most Annex II substances use a 0.1% homogeneous-material limit while cadmium uses 0.01%. - [When can RoHS spare parts use transition rules? | RoHS FAQ](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/spare-parts.md): EU RoHS FAQ on spare parts, repair parts, reused parts, closed-loop B2B reuse, legacy EEE cutoffs, Annex III and IV exemptions, and evidence to keep. - [Which EEE is in scope under EU RoHS? | RoHS FAQ](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/eee-scope.md): EU RoHS scope FAQ explaining when a product is electrical and electronic equipment, which Article 2 exclusions to check, and what evidence to keep. *Recommended next step* *Placement: after implementation section* ## Use this RoHS guide as a cited evidence workflow Turn this EU RoHS Directive page into a repeatable workflow for product, legal, quality, procurement, support, and engineering teams. Keep citations, owners, evidence, and review triggers together. - [Open Research Copilot](/solutions/research-copilot.md): Answer RoHS scope, timing, and interpretation questions with cited outputs. - [Talk through implementation](/contact.md): Review your scope, evidence model, controls, and next actions. --- [Privacy Policy](https://www.sorena.io/privacy) | [Terms of Use](https://www.sorena.io/terms-of-use) | [DMCA](https://www.sorena.io/dmca) | [About Us](https://www.sorena.io/about-us) (c) 2026 Sorena AB (559573-7338). All rights reserved. Source: https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/exemption-expiry