Restrictions pertaining to the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) are new industry requirements for environmental protection and recycling. RoHS is changing the world-wide electronics industry. And Supermicro is doing its part to produce environmentally safe products.

European Union

The RoHS Directive, also known as EU Directive 2002/95/EG, goes into affect on July 1st, 2006 in Europe. The RoHS directive mandates that electrical and electronic products put into the European market within EU states shall contain restrictive levels of the following substances:

• Lead (Pb)
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+)
• Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)
• Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)

California and the Americas

California has initiated it's own version of the EU's RoHS Directive, the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003, or SB20, scheduled to take effect in January, 2007. At least 20 other states and Canada have legislation pending for RoHS-like regulations.

China

China has modeled after RoHS and WEEE following a more restrictive version with requirements scheduled to go into affect in July, 2006. These include China's Regulations for Pollution Control of Electronic Products (RPCEP).

Japan

Japan has adopted the green procurement practices of JPSSI, a more stringent mandate than RoHS.

Taiwan, Korea, Australia

In the Pacific Rim, countries around the world are initiating versions of the RoHS directive.

Mercury

• Exempted (scanner bulbs, projector lamps, backlit displays or LEDs)
• Packaging Materials (May not contain any amount of mercury as an intentionally added element (0.01% or 100 PPM or less)

Hexavalent Chromium and its compounds (no more than 0.01% or 100 PPM)

• Non-Metallic Applications (Paints, Pigments, and Plastics)
• Metallic Applications (Corrosion preventative coatings, conversion coatings)
• Packaging Materials (May not contain any amount of hexavalent chromium and its compounds as an intentionally added element (0.01% or 100 PPM or less)

PBBs or PBDEs

• (flame-retardants must not be contained in plastic parts, components, materials and products in greater than 0.1% or 1000 PPM)
• Packaging Materials (May not contain any amount of bromine based flame retardents as an intentionally added element (0.01% or 100 PPM or less)

Cadmium and its compounds

• (No more than 0.01% or 100 PPM)
• Packaging Materials (May not contain any amount of cadmium as an intentionally added element (0.01% or 100 PPM or less)