Summary of Japan RoHS by RSJ Technical Consulting

Making Sustainability Profitable

Home

About Us

Reporting Services

Consulting Services

Software Sales

Tutorial Pages

Compliance Tips

News Briefs

RSJ Technical Consulting

What is Japan RoHS?

Products:	Resources-Saved:	Resources-Reutilized:
Personal computers	METI No. 62	METI No. 77
Unit air conditioners	METI No. 63	METI No. 78
Copy machines		METI No. 81
Televisions	METI No. 66	METI No. 82
Microwave ovens	METI No. 67	METI No. 83
Dryers	METI No. 68	METI No. 84
Refrigerators	METI No. 69	METI No. 85
Washers	METI No. 70	METI No. 86

In April 2006, Japan responded to the RoHS directive (regulating six hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment in the European Union) by amending fifteen ministerial ordinances related to the Law for the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources. Taken together, these fifteen ordinances are informally known as Japan RoHS.

Beginning in April 2001, the law established design for the environment (DfE) mandates for certain products, making the 3Rs of reduce, reuse, and recycle mandatory for Japanese manufacturers. Sixty-two ministerial ordinances provide the DfE requirements or "judgment criteria" for a wide range of industries and products.

Then in 2006, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) revised the ordinances for eight electrical/electronic products: PCs, TVs, copy machines, refrigerators, washers, dryers, microwave ovens and unit air conditioners. Revisions were effective July 1, 2006.

METI Nos. 62-63 and 66-70 amend the judgment criteria for seven resources-saved products (all except copy machines):
	Judgment criteria are essentially the same: extend product life by using durable materials and designing repairable products; reduce volume at end-of-life by adopting smaller parts and lighter-weight materials
	Scope now includes importers as well as domestic manufacturers (previously, non-Japanese manufacturers did not need to meet DfE criteria, submit a plan to METI or have on-site inspections)
METI Nos. 77-78 and 82-86 amend the judgment criteria for seven resources-reutilized products (all except copy machines):
	Existing judgment criteria are essentially the same: reduce number of materials and components, use materials that can be recycled, attach batteries without soldering, make product easy-to-disassemble, label plastics for recycling
	Scope now includes importers as well as domestic manufacturers (previously, non-Japanese manufacturers did not need to meet DfE criteria, submit a plan to METI or have on-site inspections)
	New appended table listing the six RoHS substances: lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, cadmium, PBBs and PBDE
	New control of materials judgment criteria: materials in the appended table should be identified and quantified, but their use is not prohibited
	New J-Moss judgment criteria: products must be marked per JIS C 0950 (Japan Industrial Standard) to show materials in the appended table
METI No. 81 amends the resources-reutilized product judgment criteria for copy machines:
	Judgment criteria are essentially the same: use non-toxic, durable materials for certain reusable parts, design product so these parts can be removed without damage, attach handles for easy servicing of product
	Scope now includes importers as well as domestic manufacturers (previously, non-Japanese manufacturers did not need to meet DfE criteria, submit a plan to METI or have on-site inspections)

This summary of Japan RoHS is designed to provide you with an accurate, easy-to-understand overview of the topic and does not constitute legal advice. The actual standard in the original language should be reviewed and used for all business, legal, and product compliance purposes.

Back to Tutorial Index