---
title: "RoHS Homogeneous Material Definition and Limits"
canonical_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/homogeneous-material"
source_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/homogeneous-material"
author: "Sorena AI"
description: "Plain-English EU RoHS FAQ on homogeneous materials, Annex II thresholds, coatings, cables, assemblies, and evidence needed for material-level RoHS decisions."
published_at: "2026-05-09"
updated_at: "2026-05-09"
keywords:
  - "RoHS homogeneous material"
  - "homogeneous material definition"
  - "RoHS 0.1 limit"
  - "RoHS Annex II"
  - "RoHS material evidence"
  - "EU RoHS Directive"
  - "RoHS"
  - "Homogeneous Material"
  - "RoHS FAQ"
---
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# RoHS Homogeneous Material Definition and Limits

Plain-English EU RoHS FAQ on homogeneous materials, Annex II thresholds, coatings, cables, assemblies, and evidence needed for material-level RoHS decisions.

*FAQ* *EU RoHS*

## What is a RoHS homogeneous material?

Under EU RoHS, restricted-substance concentration limits are checked by weight in each homogeneous material, not only across the finished product.

Use this FAQ to decide what must be separated, tested, declared, or documented when a product contains plastics, metals, coatings, solders, adhesives, cables, or complex assemblies.

A RoHS homogeneous material is either one material of uniform composition throughout or a combination of materials that cannot be separated into different materials by mechanical actions such as unscrewing, cutting, crushing, grinding, or abrasive processes. That definition matters because Article 4 and Annex II apply RoHS maximum concentration values by weight in homogeneous materials.

## RoHS homogeneous material definition

Directive 2011/65/EU defines a homogeneous material as one material of uniform composition throughout, or a material made from a combination of materials that cannot be disjointed or separated into different materials by mechanical actions.

The Directive's examples of mechanical actions include unscrewing, cutting, crushing, grinding, and abrasive processes. If those actions can separate the item into different materials, each separated material needs its own RoHS assessment.

- A single uncoated plastic part can be assessed as the plastic material, but a coated or overmoulded part may need separate material records for the base plastic and coating or attached material.
- A cable is usually not one homogeneous material because conductors, insulation, shielding, fillers, jackets, and coatings may be mechanically separable.
- A semiconductor package, connector, motor, power supply, or display should be broken into material-level evidence where separable metals, polymers, solders, platings, adhesives, and coatings create different RoHS risk points.

Sources for this answer:

- [Directive 2011/65/EU on restriction of hazardous substances (consolidated version)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Article 3(20) gives the legal definition of homogeneous material and lists the mechanical actions used to test separability.
- [IEC 62321-2:2021 sample preparation and disassembly](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/64226?ref=sorena.io) - IEC 62321-2 supports the practical disassembly, disjointment, and mechanical sample-preparation context for material-level testing.

## Annex II thresholds apply by material

The current consolidated Annex II lists ten restricted substances and their maximum concentration values tolerated by weight in homogeneous materials. Cadmium has a lower threshold than the other listed substances.

For most listed RoHS substances, the Annex II limit is 0.1% by weight in the homogeneous material. Cadmium is limited to 0.01% by weight in the homogeneous material.

- 0.1% by weight: lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP.
- 0.01% by weight: cadmium.
- The four phthalates DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP have specific application timing and carve-outs in Annex II for certain medical devices, monitoring and control instruments, cables, spare parts, and toys.

Sources for this answer:

- [Directive 2011/65/EU Annex II restricted substances](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Annex II lists the restricted substances and maximum concentration values by weight in homogeneous materials.

## How to split assemblies into RoHS materials

Start with the bill of materials, but do not stop at component names. RoHS evidence should map to the actual materials that can be separated or that remain inseparable after reasonable mechanical actions.

For a cable, that can mean separate evidence for copper or alloy conductors, plating, insulation, filler, shield, jacket, labels, and any coatings. For a printed circuit assembly, it can mean separate records for solder, component terminations, board laminate, component bodies, conformal coating, adhesives, and hardware.

- Treat coatings, platings, paints, inks, adhesives, solders, sealants, elastomers, and polymer additives as potential separate material questions when they are material to the RoHS risk.
- Do not average a restricted substance across the mass of the finished product, the assembled component, or a whole cable when a separable material is the relevant assessment level.
- When destructive separation is needed for a close question, document the method used, the sample identity, the material fraction tested, and why the result maps to the RoHS material decision.

Sources for this answer:

- [Directive 2011/65/EU Article 4 and Annex II](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Article 4 and Annex II establish the homogeneous-material basis for concentration values.
- [IEC 62321-2:2021 sample preparation and disassembly](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/64226?ref=sorena.io) - IEC 62321-2 describes sampling strategies and mechanical preparation of samples from electrotechnical products before analytical testing.

## Evidence to keep for the homogeneous-material decision

The useful record is not a generic RoHS certificate. It is a material-level trail that shows how the product was split, which Annex II threshold was applied, what declaration or test evidence supports the conclusion, and which exemptions or carve-outs were considered where relevant.

EN IEC 63000:2018 is the harmonised technical-documentation standard referenced for assessing materials, components, and electrical and electronic equipment under Directive 2011/65/EU. Use it as the organizing frame for supplier declarations, test reports, risk assessment, and conformity records.

- Keep a material breakdown tied to the product version, supplier, part number, and revision.
- Record the applicable Annex II threshold for each material rather than a single product-level pass/fail statement.
- Keep supplier declarations, IEC 62321 test reports where needed, exemption rationale, change-control records, and EN IEC 63000 technical documentation together with the EU declaration of conformity.

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 for EN IEC 63000:2018 as the harmonised standard for RoHS technical documentation.
- [Directive 2011/65/EU manufacturer obligations](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Article 7 requires manufacturers to draw up technical documentation and carry out internal production control.

## Common mistakes with homogeneous materials

The most common mistake is treating a supplier's broad product declaration as proof for every material in the part. That declaration may be useful, but it should still map to the homogeneous materials and Annex II thresholds that RoHS actually uses.

Another mistake is testing a mixed sample and treating the result as decisive when one high-risk separable material could be diluted by lower-risk material mass. If the legal question is material-level, the evidence should stay material-level.

- Do not average lead in a solder joint across a whole circuit board or finished appliance.
- Do not treat a plated metal part as a single material decision without considering whether the plating or coating needs separate evidence.
- Do not reuse old material declarations after supplier, formulation, plating, coating, resin, recycled-content, or process changes without checking whether the RoHS material evidence still matches.

Sources for this answer:

- [Directive 2011/65/EU homogeneous material definition](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - The definition and Article 4 concentration rule support material-level rather than whole-product averaging.
- [IEC 62321-2:2021 sample preparation and disassembly](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/64226?ref=sorena.io) - Supports attention to sampling and mechanical preparation before substance testing.

## Primary sources

- [Directive 2011/65/EU on restriction of hazardous substances (consolidated version)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Primary legal source for the homogeneous-material definition, Article 4 concentration rule, and Annex II restricted substances and thresholds.
  - Quote: "by weight in homogeneous materials"
- [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 for EN IEC 63000:2018 as the harmonised RoHS technical-documentation standard.
  - Quote: "EN IEC 63000:2018"
- [IEC 62321-2:2021 sample preparation and disassembly](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/64226?ref=sorena.io) - IEC source for disassembly, disjointment, mechanical sample preparation, and sampling strategies before analytical testing.
  - Quote: "mechanical preparation of samples"

## 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 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%.
- [What should teams do before a RoHS exemption expires? | RoHS FAQ](/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/faq/exemption-expiry.md): How to handle EU RoHS exemption expiry: confirm the Annex entry, renewal deadline, pending-decision status, fallback plan, and technical-file evidence.
- [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 evidence section*

## Turn material-level RoHS evidence into a reusable file

Map each product version to its separable materials, Annex II thresholds, supplier declarations, test reports, exemptions, and EN IEC 63000 technical documentation so reviewers can trace the RoHS decision without rebuilding the analysis.

- [Open Research Copilot](/solutions/research-copilot.md): Answer RoHS material, threshold, and evidence questions with cited outputs.
- [Talk through implementation](/contact.md): Review your BOM, material declarations, test plan, and technical-documentation model.


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