What is the primary objective of **RoHS**?

**The primary objective of **RoHS** is to restrict hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to protect human health and the environment during waste management and recycling.** Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2), as amended by Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2015/863, limits ten substances—lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP—at maximum concentration values (MCVs) of **0.1% by weight (1000 ppm)** in homogeneous materials (except **0.01% (100 ppm)** for Cd), enhancing recyclability alongside the WEEE Directive.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **RoHS**?

**Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and authorized representatives placing EEE on the EU market must comply with **RoHS**, unless explicitly excluded.** Scope covers all EEE categories in Annex I (e.g., household appliances, IT equipment, medical devices) with electrical/electronic components, excluding large-scale fixed installations, military equipment, and transport means (Article 2(4)). Compliance applies at **homogeneous material** level, requiring supply chain-wide substance control.

Does **RoHS** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**No, **RoHS** does not require external audits or third-party certification.** Compliance relies on internal conformity assessment per the New Legislative Framework: manufacturers issue an **EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)**, maintain technical documentation (per EN IEC 63000:2018) for 10 years, and affix CE marking where applicable. Market surveillance by Member States verifies via documentation and testing requests.

How often should an assessment for **RoHS** be performed?

**RoHS assessments must be performed continuously as part of a dynamic compliance management system, with periodic verification tied to risk.** Initial assessment occurs before market placement; ongoing reviews cover supplier changes, exemption expiries (Annex III/IV, time-limited via delegated acts), and production lots. Risk-based testing (e.g., annual for high-risk materials) uses IEC 62321 methods; full reassessment follows regulatory updates like the 2023 Commission review.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **RoHS**?

**Non-compliance with **RoHS** results in decentralized Member State enforcement, including product withdrawal, recalls, sales bans, and administrative fines.** Penalties vary by jurisdiction (no unified EU schedule); risks include market exclusion, customs seizures, and potential criminal liability for severe violations. Technical file deficiencies trigger corrective actions during surveillance.

An **RoHS** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, **RoHS** substance lists and thresholds align partially with frameworks like China RoHS 2 (core six substances, broader EEE scope with mandatory labeling/E-PUP) and California SB50 (subset of heavy metals).** However, divergences in exemptions, marking (e.g., China Hazardous Substance Tables), and scope require tailored mapping; EU RoHS serves as a stringent baseline for multi-jurisdictional strategies.

What is the first step to begin implementing **RoHS**?

**The first step to implement **RoHS** is to conduct product scoping and a homogeneous material-level bill of materials (BOM) inventory.** Classify products against Annex I categories and exclusions (Article 2(4)), identifying high-risk materials (e.g., solders, plastics) via supplier declarations; align with EN IEC 63000 for technical file structure.

What is the primary objective of **COPPA**?

**The primary objective of COPPA is to protect the privacy of children under 13 years old from unauthorized online collection, use, or disclosure of personal information by operators of commercial websites, online services, mobile apps, and IoT devices.** Enacted in 1998 and effective April 21, 2000, COPPA requires verifiable parental consent (VPC) before collecting personal information, such as names, addresses, persistent identifiers (e.g., IP addresses, device IDs), geolocation data to street-level precision, and audio/video files with a child's image or voice, as expanded by 2013 amendments.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **COPPA**?

**Operators of commercial websites, online services, mobile apps, and IoT devices that are directed to children under 13 or have actual knowledge of collecting personal information from them must comply with COPPA.** This includes entities benefiting from data collection (e.g., ad networks) and applies extraterritorially to services processing U.S. children's data. Non-commercial nonprofits are generally exempt unless they engage in commercial activities.

Does **COPPA** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**COPPA does not mandate external audits or third-party certification for all operators, but participation in FTC-approved safe harbor programs (e.g., iKeepSafe approved 2014, ESRB modifications 2018) involves self-regulatory audits.** Operators must implement internal measures like data security, privacy policies, and VPC, with the FTC enforcing compliance through investigations rather than routine certifications.

How often should an assessment for **COPPA** be performed?

**COPPA does not prescribe a fixed frequency for assessments, but operators should conduct regular internal reviews, particularly after technology changes, data practices updates, or FTC regulatory reviews (e.g., comment periods extended to December 2019).** Ongoing monitoring for "actual knowledge" of child users and safe harbor participation requires periodic evaluations to ensure verifiable parental consent and data minimization.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **COPPA**?

**Non-compliance with COPPA results in civil penalties up to $43,792 per violation, enforced by the FTC as unfair or deceptive practices under Section 5 of the FTC Act, with state AGs able to sue.** High-profile cases include YouTube's $170 million fine in 2019 for unconsented tracking on child-directed content; additional risks include injunctions, data deletion orders, and reputational damage.

An **COPPA** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, COPPA's requirements for parental consent, data minimization, and child privacy protections can be mapped to elements in other international frameworks focused on minors' data.** Its strict under-13 age threshold, broad personal information definition, and VPC mechanisms provide a baseline compatible with global child privacy rules, though scopes differ (e.g., narrower than general adult data laws).

What is the first step to begin implementing **COPPA**?

**The first step to implement COPPA is to conduct an audience analysis to determine if your service is directed to children under 13 or risks actual knowledge of their data collection.** Post a comprehensive privacy policy, assess personal information practices per 16 CFR Part 312, and prepare verifiable parental consent mechanisms (e.g., credit card verification, video calls) from one of 11+ FTC-approved methods.

RoHS vs COPPA | GRADUM

Standards Comparison

RoHS

Mandatory

2011

EU directive restricting hazardous substances in EEE

COPPA

Mandatory

1998

U.S. regulation protecting children under 13 online privacy.

Quick Verdict

RoHS restricts hazardous substances in electronics for EU market access, while COPPA mandates parental consent for kids' online data in US services. Companies adopt RoHS for compliance and sales, COPPA to avoid massive FTC fines and protect children.

Hazardous Substances

RoHS

Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2 recast)

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Homogeneous material thresholds (0.1% for 10 substances)
Open-scope covers all EEE unless explicitly excluded
Time-limited exemptions renewed via delegated directives
Requires technical file and EU Declaration of Conformity
Tiered verification using IEC 62321 testing methods

Children Privacy

COPPA

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Requires verifiable parental consent before child data collection
Targets operators serving children under 13 years old
Broad PII definition includes persistent IDs and geolocation
Mandates privacy policies and parental data access rights
FTC enforcement with $43,792 penalties per violation

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

RoHS Details

What It Is

Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2) is an EU regulation restricting hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). It aims to protect health and environment by limiting risks in waste management, complementing WEEE Directive. Scope is open: all EEE unless excluded. Key approach: homogeneous material concentration limits (0.1% for most of 10 substances, 0.01% for cadmium).

Key Components

**10 restricted substancesPb, Hg, Cd, Cr(VI), PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP.
**Annexes III/IV exemptionstime-limited, application-specific.
**Compliance modeltechnical documentation per EN IEC 63000, EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC), CE marking.
Built on risk-based evidence: supplier declarations, IEC 62321 testing.

Why Organizations Use It

Mandated for EU market access; prevents recalls, fines. Drives supply chain governance, recyclability, ESG reporting. Reduces risks from exemptions expiry, substance reviews; builds stakeholder trust via demonstrable conformity.

Implementation Overview

Phased: scope analysis, BoM review, supplier controls, tiered testing (XRF screening, ICP-MS/GC-MS confirmation), technical files. Applies to manufacturers/importers of EEE globally selling to EU. No certification, but 10-year documentation retention for audits. Suits all sizes; complex for multi-tier supply chains.

COPPA Details

What It Is

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a U.S. federal regulation enacted in 1998, effective April 2000, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It protects children under 13 from unauthorized collection of personal data by commercial websites, apps, IoT devices directed to kids or with actual knowledge of child users. Uses a parent-control, consent-based approach with 2013 expansions for modern tracking.

Key Components

Verifiable parental consent (VPC) via 11+ methods (e.g., credit card, video call)
Broad personal information (PII): names, device IDs, geolocation, audio/video files
Privacy policies, parental review/deletion rights, data security
Minimization and safe harbors (e.g., ESRB, iKeepSafe) Core on 5 requirements: notice, consent, access, no-conditioning, confidentiality.

Why Organizations Use It

Avoid fines ($43,792/violation; YouTube $170M)
Legal compliance for child-directed services
Reduce enforcement risks, build parental trust
Global applicability enhances reputation.

Implementation Overview

Assess operator status, implement age screens/VPC/policies
Training, audits; suits all sizes targeting U.S. kids
Self-compliance; FTC oversight, safe harbor audits.

Key Differences

Aspect	RoHS	COPPA
Scope	Hazardous substances in EEE materials	Children's online personal data collection
Industry	Electronics manufacturers, global	Online services targeting kids under 13, US
Nature	Mandatory EU product regulation	Mandatory US federal privacy law
Testing	Material substance analysis (XRF, ICP-MS)	Age verification, parental consent mechanisms
Penalties	Fines, recalls by Member States	$43,792 per violation by FTC

Scope

RoHS

Hazardous substances in EEE materials

COPPA

Children's online personal data collection

Industry

RoHS

Electronics manufacturers, global

COPPA

Online services targeting kids under 13, US

Nature

RoHS

Mandatory EU product regulation

COPPA

Mandatory US federal privacy law

Testing

RoHS

Material substance analysis (XRF, ICP-MS)

COPPA

Age verification, parental consent mechanisms

Penalties

RoHS

Fines, recalls by Member States

COPPA

$43,792 per violation by FTC

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about RoHS and COPPA

RoHS FAQ

COPPA FAQ

You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

The SOC Maturity Roadmap: A 5-Step Blueprint for Scaling from Ad-Hoc to Optimized Operations

Unlock SOC excellence with our 5-step maturity roadmap. Compare SOC-CMM, NIST CSF, and CMMC frameworks to scale from ad-hoc to automated operations. Start your

5 Ways Modern Compliance Software Makes Evolving Regulations Your Strategic Advantage

Discover 5 ways modern compliance software turns evolving regulations into strategic advantage. Automate monitoring, cut 3x non-compliance costs, stay audit-rea

NIST CSF 2.0 Deep Dive: Mastering the Updated Framework Core Functions

Unpack NIST CSF 2.0's enhanced Core Functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover. Get SME playbooks, governance shifts & strategies for cyber

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform

Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.

100+ Standards & Regulations

AI-Powered Insights

Collaborative Assessments

Actionable Recommendations

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

PDPA vs ISO 27018

Unlock PDPA vs ISO 27018: Compare Singapore/Thailand/Taiwan privacy acts with cloud PII standard. Key diffs, compliance tips. Align strategy now!

K-PIPA vs MAS TRM

Compare K-PIPA vs MAS TRM: Korea's stringent privacy law meets Singapore's tech risk rules for finance. Master APAC compliance, governance & resilience strategies now!

EN 1090 vs U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules

Compare EN 1090 steel/aluminium execution standards vs U.S. SEC cybersecurity rules: risk classes, FPC/CE marking, governance & 4-day incident disclosure. Navigate both for compliance mastery!

RoHS

COPPA

Quick Verdict

RoHS

Key Features

COPPA

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

RoHS Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

COPPA Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

RoHS FAQ

What is the primary objective of RoHS?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with RoHS?

Does RoHS require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for RoHS be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with RoHS?

An RoHS be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing RoHS?

COPPA FAQ

What is the primary objective of COPPA?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with COPPA?

Does COPPA require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for COPPA be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with COPPA?

An COPPA be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing COPPA?

You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

The SOC Maturity Roadmap: A 5-Step Blueprint for Scaling from Ad-Hoc to Optimized Operations

5 Ways Modern Compliance Software Makes Evolving Regulations Your Strategic Advantage

NIST CSF 2.0 Deep Dive: Mastering the Updated Framework Core Functions

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

PDPA vs ISO 27018

K-PIPA vs MAS TRM

EN 1090 vs U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules