--- title: "EU RoHS Spare Parts: Repair and Reuse" canonical_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/spare-parts" source_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/eu/rohs-directive/spare-parts" author: "Sorena AI" description: "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." published_at: "2026-05-09" updated_at: "2026-05-27" keywords: - "EU RoHS spare parts" - "RoHS repair parts" - "RoHS reuse" - "RoHS Article 4" - "RoHS closed-loop" - "Directive 2011/65/EU" - "EU RoHS Directive" - "RoHS spare parts" --- **[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) --- # EU RoHS Spare Parts: Repair and Reuse 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. *Artifact Guide* *EU* ## EU RoHS spare parts RoHS treats spare parts as part of the substance-restriction system: EEE placed on the market, including cables and spare parts for repair, reuse, updating functionality, or upgrading capacity, must meet Annex II limits unless a specific Article 4 carve-out applies. Use this page to decide whether a service part, repair part, reused recovered part, cable, or sub-assembly can rely on a RoHS date-based rule, and what evidence to keep. For EU RoHS spare parts, the useful compliance question is specific: what original EEE is being repaired, reused, updated, or upgraded; when was that EEE placed on the market; which restricted substance is involved; and is the item a new spare part, a reused recovered spare part, a cable, a sub-assembly, or finished EEE in its own right? ## Start with the Article 4 rule Article 4(1) requires Member States to ensure that EEE placed on the market, including cables and spare parts for repair, reuse, updating functionalities, or upgrading capacity, does not contain RoHS Annex II substances above the maximum concentration values tolerated by weight in homogeneous materials. That means a spare-part review cannot stop at a supplier certificate or a broad claim that the part is for service. The record should classify the item, identify the finished EEE it supports, map the relevant Article 4 date rule, and show whether the homogeneous materials meet the Annex II limits or fall under a precise carve-out. - Confirm whether the item is a spare part for specific EEE, a cable, a sub-assembly for integration, or finished EEE sold on its own. - Identify the original EEE category and placing-on-the-market date before relying on a repair or reuse rule. - Apply Annex II limits at homogeneous-material level: 0.1% for lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP, and 0.01% for cadmium. - Do not treat a spare-part rule as a product-wide exemption; it applies only where the directive wording, dates, substance, and use purpose match. Sources for this answer: - [Directive 2011/65/EU consolidated text, Article 4 and Annex II](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Binding consolidated RoHS source for Article 4 spare-part coverage and Annex II homogeneous-material concentration limits. ## Repair, reuse, update, and upgrade parts for older EEE Article 4(4) creates date-based carve-outs for cables and spare parts used to repair, reuse, update functionalities, or upgrade capacity of certain older EEE. The current consolidated directive includes dates for EEE placed on the market before 1 July 2006, medical devices before 22 July 2014, in vitro diagnostic medical devices before 22 July 2016, monitoring and control instruments before 22 July 2014, industrial monitoring and control instruments before 22 July 2017, and other formerly out-of-scope EEE placed on the market before 22 July 2019. The same paragraph also covers EEE that benefited from an exemption and was placed on the market before that exemption expired, but only as far as that specific exemption is concerned. This should be documented at the exact Annex entry and application level, not as a generic spare-parts permission. - Record the original finished EEE and the evidence for its placing-on-the-market date. - State whether the service purpose is repair, reuse, updating of functionality, or upgrading of capacity. - For exemption-dependent parts, record the Annex III or Annex IV entry, the restricted substance, the application wording, and the expiry status. - If the older EEE date or exemption basis cannot be evidenced, narrow the conclusion to a normal Annex II substance assessment. Sources for this answer: - [Directive 2011/65/EU consolidated text, Article 4(4)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Binding source for date-based cable and spare-part carve-outs for older EEE, medical devices, monitoring instruments, formerly out-of-scope EEE, and exemption-dependent EEE. - [Directive (EU) 2017/2102 amending RoHS spare-part and secondary-market rules](https://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2017/2102/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Official amendment explaining and inserting clearer Article 4 rules for secondary market operations and reused spare parts. ## Reused recovered spare parts need closed-loop evidence Article 4(5) is narrower than ordinary repair-spare logic. It applies to reused spare parts only where reuse takes place in auditable closed-loop business-to-business return systems and the reuse of spare parts is notified to the consumer. The cutoff dates depend on the source EEE and the new EEE in which the recovered part is used: parts recovered from EEE placed before 1 July 2006 and used before 1 July 2016; medical devices or monitoring and control instruments placed before 22 July 2014 and used before 22 July 2024; in vitro diagnostic medical devices placed before 22 July 2016 and used before 22 July 2026; industrial monitoring and control instruments placed before 22 July 2017 and used before 22 July 2027; and other formerly out-of-scope EEE placed before 22 July 2019 and used before 22 July 2029. - Keep traceability records showing the recovered source equipment, recovery date, part identity, receiving business, and target EEE. - Keep evidence that the return system is auditable, closed-loop, and business-to-business rather than an ordinary open resale channel. - Keep the consumer notification text or record showing that reuse of the spare part was notified. - Do not reuse the old 1 July 2016 cutoff for later category-specific recovered-part rules; the consolidated Article 4(5) now lists separate 2024, 2026, 2027, and 2029 use-by dates. Sources for this answer: - [Directive 2011/65/EU consolidated text, Article 4(5)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Binding source for auditable closed-loop business-to-business reuse conditions and recovered spare-part cutoff dates. - [Directive (EU) 2017/2102 amending RoHS spare-part and secondary-market rules](https://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2017/2102/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Official amendment source for the current category-specific recovered spare-part date structure. *Recommended next step* *Placement: after implementation section* ## Build a RoHS spare-part evidence record Turn spare-part identity, target equipment, source equipment, market-placement dates, substance limits, exemptions, closed-loop reuse evidence, and CE records into one reviewable RoHS decision. - [Open Research Copilot](/solutions/research-copilot.md): Answer RoHS spare-part, cutoff-date, and evidence questions with cited outputs. - [Talk through implementation](/contact.md): Review your service-part scope, reuse model, supplier evidence, and next actions. ## Phthalates and finished-EEE decisions The four phthalates added to RoHS Annex II have an additional spare-part rule. The consolidated Annex II says the DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP restriction does not apply to cables or spare parts used for repair, reuse, updating functionalities, or upgrading capacity of EEE placed on the market before 22 July 2019, and of medical devices and monitoring and control instruments placed on the market before 22 July 2021. CE marking and declaration decisions should be kept separate from the substance decision. Article 15 requires CE marking on finished EEE or its data plate, or on packaging and accompanying documents where marking the EEE is not possible or warranted. If a service item is itself finished EEE sold independently, assess the full manufacturer, importer, distributor, EU declaration, CE marking, and technical-documentation duties instead of treating it only as a spare part. - For DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP, document the original EEE date and whether the spare part is for repair, reuse, functionality updating, or capacity upgrading. - For medical devices and monitoring and control instruments, use the 22 July 2021 phthalate spare-part date, not the 22 July 2019 date used for most EEE. - If the part is finished EEE in its own right, build a normal RoHS conformity file with technical documentation, EU declaration, CE marking evidence, and retention records. - Keep economic-operator traceability for 10 years after placing on the market, including who supplied the EEE and to whom it was supplied when authorities request it. Sources for this answer: - [Directive 2011/65/EU consolidated text, Annex II phthalate spare-part rule](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Binding consolidated source for DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP cable and spare-part carve-outs. - [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) - Official amendment adding DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP to RoHS Annex II and setting application timing. - [Directive 2011/65/EU consolidated text, Articles 7, 12, 13, and 15](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Binding source for manufacturer duties, economic-operator identification, EU declaration of conformity, and CE marking rules. ## Spare-part evidence checklist A good spare-part file lets a reviewer reproduce the conclusion without asking the service team for history. It should show the part identity, target EEE, source EEE where relevant, dates, substance or exemption basis, and the reason the item is handled as a spare part rather than as finished EEE. For release and support teams, the most useful output is a short dated decision record attached to the BOM, service-part master data, supplier declaration, test rationale, closed-loop tracking record where relevant, exemption register, and technical documentation or CE records where the item is finished EEE. - Use one row per spare part, cable, recovered part, or sub-assembly; avoid merging different source equipment or dates into one conclusion. - Store evidence for the original placing-on-the-market date, target repair or upgrade purpose, supplier and material declarations, lab reports where needed, and Annex III or IV entry where an exemption is claimed. - Add a change trigger for new suppliers, material substitutions, part revisions, refurbished returns, exemption expiry, phthalate exposure, and any shift from business-to-business closed-loop reuse to open-market resale. - When evidence is incomplete, write the gap plainly and default to the ordinary RoHS Annex II assessment instead of relying on an unsupported spare-part carve-out. Sources for this answer: - [Directive 2011/65/EU consolidated text, Articles 4, 7, 9, and 12](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Binding source for Article 4 substance restrictions, technical documentation, importer checks, and economic-operator traceability. - [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. ## Primary sources - [Directive 2011/65/EU consolidated text, RoHS](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Binding consolidated RoHS source for Article 4 spare-part rules, Annex II substance limits, phthalate carve-outs, economic-operator duties, CE marking, EU declaration, and technical documentation. - Quote: "including cables and spare parts for its repair" - [Directive (EU) 2017/2102 amending RoHS spare-part and secondary-market rules](https://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2017/2102/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Official amendment source for the current Article 4 spare-part, secondary-market, and recovered spare-part date structure. - Quote: "repair, replacement of spare parts, refurbishment and reuse" - [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) - Official amendment adding DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP to RoHS Annex II and setting application timing and cable/spare-part carve-outs. - Quote: "DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP" - [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 publication of EN IEC 63000:2018 as the harmonised standard reference for RoHS technical documentation. - Quote: "EN IEC 63000:2018" ## 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 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%. - [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. --- [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/spare-parts