RoHS
EU directive restricting hazardous substances in EEE
ISO 27018
Code of practice for PII protection in public clouds.
Quick Verdict
RoHS restricts hazardous substances in electronics for EU market access, while ISO 27018 provides privacy controls for cloud PII processors. Companies adopt RoHS for legal compliance and sales, ISO 27018 for trust and procurement acceleration.
RoHS
Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2) on hazardous substances
Key Features
- Homogeneous material concentration limits (0.1%/0.01% Cd)
- Open-scope applies to all EEE unless excluded
- Time-limited exemptions in Annexes III/IV
- Technical documentation and EU Declaration of Conformity
- Tiered testing via IEC 62321 methods
ISO 27018
ISO/IEC 27018:2025 PII protection in public clouds
Key Features
- Privacy controls for public cloud PII processors
- Subprocessor transparency and disclosure requirements
- Breach notification to customers without delay
- Support for data subject rights handling
- Prohibits secondary PII use without consent
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
RoHS Details
What It Is
RoHS (Directive 2011/65/EU, recast as RoHS 2, amended by 2015/863) is an EU regulation restricting ten hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). Its primary purpose is protecting health and environment by limiting risks in EEE waste management, improving recyclability alongside WEEE Directive. Scope covers all EEE unless excluded; uses homogeneous material approach with maximum concentration values (MCVs): 0.1% for most, 0.01% for cadmium.
Key Components
- **Ten restricted substancesPb, Hg, Cd, Cr(VI), PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP.
- **Annexes III/IV exemptionstime-limited, application-specific.
- **Compliance modeltechnical documentation (EN IEC 63000), EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC), CE marking; risk-based verification (IEC 62321 testing).
Why Organizations Use It
Mandated for EU market access; reduces enforcement risks (fines, recalls). Drives supply chain governance, substitution innovation, ESG benefits, recyclability. Builds stakeholder trust, level playing field.
Implementation Overview
Phased: scope analysis, BoM review, supplier declarations, tiered testing (XRF/ICP-MS), technical files. Applies to manufacturers/importers of EEE globally selling to EU; high complexity for supply chains. No certification, but 10-year documentation retention for audits. (178 words)
ISO 27018 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27018 is a code of practice extending ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 for protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in public clouds where providers act as PII processors. Its primary purpose is to provide privacy-specific controls for cloud environments, focusing on multi-tenancy, subprocessors, and data flows. It uses a risk-based approach integrated into an Information Security Management System (ISMS).
Key Components
- Core domains: transparency, contractual obligations, data subject rights, breach management, security safeguards.
- ~25-30 additional privacy controls mapped to ISO 27001 Annex A.
- Built on principles like consent, purpose limitation, minimization, accountability.
- Assessed via ISO 27001 audits; no standalone certification.
Why Organizations Use It
- Builds customer trust, accelerates procurement.
- Aligns with GDPR, HIPAA processor obligations.
- Mitigates privacy risks in clouds.
- Differentiates CSPs, aids insurance.
Implementation Overview
- Gap analysis on existing ISMS, add controls to Statement of Applicability.
- Involves policy updates, training, audits.
- Suits CSPs of all sizes; global applicability.
- Requires third-party audits during ISO 27001 certification.
Key Differences
| Aspect | RoHS | ISO 27018 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Hazardous substances in EEE materials | PII protection in public clouds |
| Industry | EEE manufacturers worldwide | Cloud service providers globally |
| Nature | Mandatory EU directive, voluntary elsewhere | Voluntary ISO code of practice |
| Testing | XRF screening, lab analysis (IEC 62321) | ISO 27001 audits with privacy controls |
| Penalties | Fines, recalls by Member States | No legal penalties, certification loss |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about RoHS and ISO 27018
RoHS FAQ
ISO 27018 FAQ
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