---
title: "RoHS Homogeneous Material Thresholds"
canonical_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/homogeneous-material-thresholds"
source_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/homogeneous-material-thresholds"
author: "Sorena AI"
description: "EU RoHS guide to homogeneous material thresholds: 0.1% limits, the 0.01% cadmium limit, material splitting, coatings, samples, exemptions, and technical evidence."
published_at: "2026-05-09"
updated_at: "2026-05-09"
keywords:
  - "RoHS homogeneous material thresholds"
  - "RoHS 0.1 limit"
  - "RoHS 0.01 cadmium limit"
  - "RoHS Annex II"
  - "EU RoHS material evidence"
  - "EU RoHS Directive"
  - "RoHS"
  - "Directive 2011/65/EU"
  - "Homogeneous material"
  - "RoHS thresholds"
  - "RoHS technical documentation"
---
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---

# RoHS Homogeneous Material Thresholds

EU RoHS guide to homogeneous material thresholds: 0.1% limits, the 0.01% cadmium limit, material splitting, coatings, samples, exemptions, and technical evidence.

*Artifact Guide* *EU RoHS*

## RoHS Homogeneous Material Thresholds

EU RoHS concentration limits are checked by weight in each homogeneous material, not by averaging across the finished electrical or electronic product.

Use this guide to split assemblies into material decisions, apply the Annex II limits, and keep evidence that maps declarations or tests to the actual RoHS assessment level.

Under Directive 2011/65/EU, the RoHS restricted-substance limits are tolerated by weight in homogeneous materials. That means a finished product, assembly, cable, connector, coating, solder joint, adhesive, or plastic part has to be assessed at the material level that can or cannot be mechanically separated.

## What the homogeneous-material threshold means

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 separated into different materials by mechanical actions such as unscrewing, cutting, crushing, grinding, or abrasive processes.

Article 4 then applies the Annex II maximum concentration values by weight in homogeneous materials. The practical consequence is simple: do not average a restricted substance across a whole product, populated board, cable, motor, display, or connector when a separable material is the relevant RoHS unit.

- Start with the bill of materials, then identify the metals, plastics, solders, coatings, platings, elastomers, adhesives, inks, labels, fillers, and jackets that may need separate evidence.
- Use mechanical separability as the boundary test: if the material can be separated by the listed mechanical actions, assess the separated material rather than the larger assembly.
- Keep the material split tied to product version, supplier, part number, material grade, coating or plating specification, and revision so later changes do not silently invalidate the RoHS record.

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) - Primary legal source for the Article 3(20) homogeneous-material definition and Article 4(2) concentration rule.
- [European Commission RoHS FAQ guidance](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/document/download/ed8505e9-a901-4e9b-9d4e-5a9510299555_en?filename=FAQ%20key%20guidance%20document%20-%20RoHS.pdf&ref=sorena.io) - Commission FAQ explaining that maximum concentration values apply to each homogeneous material individually.

## Annex II concentration limits

Annex II currently lists ten restricted substances and the maximum concentration values tolerated by weight in homogeneous materials. Cadmium has the lower limit; the other listed substances are set at 0.1% by weight.

For material reviews, record the exact substance and threshold that applies. A single RoHS pass statement is weaker than a material-level matrix showing which homogeneous material was assessed against which Annex II limit.

- 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 Annex II timing and carve-outs for certain medical devices, monitoring and control instruments, cables, spare parts, and toys, so do not treat phthalate scope as a generic 0.1% rule without checking the product context.

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 their maximum concentration values by weight in homogeneous materials.
- [Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2015/863 adding phthalates to RoHS Annex II](https://data.europa.eu/eli/dir_del/2015/863/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Binding source for adding DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP to Annex II.

## How to apply the limits to assemblies, coatings, and samples

A product can look compliant at total-product level while one material fails at homogeneous-material level. That is why RoHS evidence should be built from the material fractions that matter: the solder in a joint, the copper or alloy conductor in a cable, the insulation compound, a surface coating, a connector plating, or the polymer body of a component.

Sampling and testing decisions should avoid dilution. If a mixed sample combines high-risk and low-risk materials, the result may not answer the RoHS question for the material that can be mechanically separated or that remains a distinct coating or layer.

- For cables, consider conductor metal, plating, insulation, shielding, fillers, labels, jackets, and coatings as separate possible evidence lines.
- For printed circuit assemblies, consider solder, board laminate, component bodies, terminations, conformal coating, adhesives, fasteners, and plated or coated metal parts.
- For coatings and platings, document whether the layer is treated as a separate material question, what sample preparation was used, and how the result maps back to the RoHS threshold.

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) - Article 3(20) defines homogeneous material through uniform composition and mechanical separation.
- [European Commission RoHS FAQ guidance](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/document/download/ed8505e9-a901-4e9b-9d4e-5a9510299555_en?filename=FAQ%20key%20guidance%20document%20-%20RoHS.pdf&ref=sorena.io) - Commission FAQ gives examples such as plastic covers, copper wire, solder joints, and cautions against sample dilution.
- [IEC 62321-2:2021 sample preparation and disassembly](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/64226?ref=sorena.io) - IEC source for sampling strategies, disassembly, disjointment, and mechanical sample preparation before analytical testing.

## Evidence to keep for threshold decisions

The strongest RoHS file shows the chain from product scope to material split, Annex II threshold, supplier evidence, test evidence where needed, exemption rationale, and final declaration. The evidence should let a reviewer see why each material was accepted without rebuilding the engineering history.

EN IEC 63000:2018 is the harmonised standard referenced for technical documentation 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 documentation.

- Keep a material-level restricted-substance matrix showing each homogeneous material, applicable threshold, evidence type, source date, supplier or lab, and any exemption relied on.
- Attach declarations or test reports to the specific part, material, coating, plating, formulation, supplier, and revision they support.
- Reopen the assessment after supplier changes, material substitutions, plating or coating changes, recycled-content changes, new exemptions or expiry dates, or updates to harmonised standards.

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 RoHS technical-documentation standard.
- [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.
- [European Commission RoHS Directive implementation](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/rohs-directive/rohs-directive-implementation_en?ref=sorena.io) - Commission implementation page for RoHS exemptions and renewal context.

*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 scope, threshold, exemption, and evidence questions with cited outputs.
- [Talk through RoHS implementation](/contact.md): Review your material split, evidence model, supplier controls, and next actions.

## 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, Annex II restricted substances and thresholds, exemptions, and technical documentation obligations.
  - Quote: "by weight in homogeneous materials"
- [Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2015/863 adding phthalates to RoHS Annex II](https://data.europa.eu/eli/dir_del/2015/863/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Binding source for the four phthalates added to RoHS Annex II.
  - Quote: "amending Annex II to Directive 2011/65/EU"
- [European Commission RoHS FAQ guidance](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/document/download/ed8505e9-a901-4e9b-9d4e-5a9510299555_en?filename=FAQ%20key%20guidance%20document%20-%20RoHS.pdf&ref=sorena.io) - Commission guidance explaining homogeneous materials, individual material-level threshold application, and sample-separation cautions.
  - Quote: "each of the homogeneous materials individually"
- [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: "technical documentation required for assessing materials"
- [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"
- [European Commission RoHS Directive implementation](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/rohs-directive/rohs-directive-implementation_en?ref=sorena.io) - Commission implementation page for RoHS exemptions and renewal context.
  - Quote: "Exemptions are limited in time"

## Related 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 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.


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