EU - Draft new RoHS exemption for mercury using in capillary rheometers

​On April 23, 2021, the Commission received an application made in accordance with Article 5(3) of Directive 2011/65/EU for an exemption to be listed in Annex IV to that Directive, for mercury in melt pressure transducers for capillary rheometers at temperatures over 300°C and pressures over 1000 bar.

The used pressure transducer, incorporated in capillary rheometers, consists of electrical components and is an electrical measurement device in the scope of the Directive 2011/65/EU. The capillary rheometers described in the requested exemption fall under category 9 ‘monitoring and control instruments’ of Annex I to Directive 2011/65/EU.

As the elimination and substitution is scientifically or technically impracticable, it is proposed to grant the exemption by including the applications covered by it in Annex IV to the RoHS Directive with respect to Electrical and Electronic Equipment of category 9.

The following exemption entry 49 is propsed to be added in Annex IV to the EU RoHS Directive:

'49 Mercury in melt pressure transducers for capillary rheometers at temperatures over ​300oC and pressures over 1000bar

Applies to category 9 and expires on 31 December 2024

This draft act is open for feedback for 4 weeks until January 9, 2023.​​