The RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU) on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment provides “that EEE placed on the market, including cables and spare parts for its repair, its reuse, updating of its functionalities or upgrading of its capacity, does not contain the substances listed in Annex II” ((i.e. lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers and the phthalates dibutyl phthalate (DBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), diethyl phthalate (DEP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). These provisions "shall not apply to the applications listed in Annexes III and IV" (Article 4). These Annexes are to be adapted to scientific and technical progress on the basis of the provisions listed in Article 5.

Oeko-Institut is being contracted to provide support and technical assistance in relation to the evaluation of aspects related to the Directive. This includes evaluations of exemptions from the substance restrictions, evaluations of possible changes to the scope of the Directive and evaluations of further substances and the relevance of their possible restriction for use in EEE in the future.