The EU's RoHS directive (2011/65/EU, updated 2024) restricts six hazardous substances in electronics: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB, and PBDE. Saudi SABER / SASO requires equivalent compliance. Fluorescent tubes contain 4-25 mg of mercury each, a million tubes = tonnes of mercury entering landfills. LED has zero. RoHS is part of why fluorescent is being phased out globally.
Four ideas to carry into the next specification conversation you have.
Lead, Hg, Cd, Cr-VI, PBB, PBDE plus 4 phthalates added 2019. Limit 0.1% by weight (0.01% for cadmium).
Each tube. Recycling required by KSA Civil Defense. Improperly disposed tubes contaminate soil and water.
Modern LEDs use no mercury, lead, or cadmium. RoHS-compliant by design.
Imported lighting needs SABER certification, which verifies RoHS + electrical safety. Non-compliant fixtures are blocked at port.
Six substances and four phthalates regulated under RoHS 2 + RoHS 3.
| Substance | Limit | Found in |
|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | 0.1% | Old solder, glass |
| Mercury (Hg) | 0.1% | Fluorescent lamps |
| Cadmium (Cd) | 0.01% | NiCd batteries, paints |
| Hexavalent Cr (Cr-VI) | 0.1% | Galvanic coatings |
| PBB | 0.1% | Flame retardants |
| PBDE | 0.1% | Flame retardants |
| DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP (phthalates) | 0.1% (2019) | Plastic softeners |
Five reasons every commercial lighting project must check RoHS.
Spills in landfills enter the food chain. Methylmercury accumulates in fish, eaten globally. One fluorescent tube can contaminate 600 m³ of water beyond drinking standards.
All lighting imports to KSA require SABER certificates. SABER verifies RoHS + electrical safety + energy efficiency. Non-compliant ships at port get rejected.
Saudi green building certifications cross-reference RoHS for materials credit. Without RoHS docs, projects lose points.
Saudi Civil Defense requires hazardous-lamp recycling. Disposing fluorescent tubes in general waste = fines + cleanup liability. LED ends up in regular electronics recycling.
EU REACH adds ~200 substances of very high concern (SVHC) above RoHS. NLC ships with full REACH + RoHS declaration of conformity for premium projects.
Every NLC fixture ships with full RoHS-3 + REACH declaration of conformity. SABER-certified for KSA. End-of-life recycling guidance included.
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