Standards Comparison

    RoHS

    Mandatory
    2011

    EU directive restricting hazardous substances in EEE

    VS

    ISO 31000

    Voluntary
    2018

    International guidelines for enterprise risk management

    Quick Verdict

    RoHS mandates hazardous substance limits in EEE for EU market access, while ISO 31000 provides voluntary risk management guidelines for all organizations. Companies adopt RoHS for compliance and sales; ISO 31000 for better decisions and resilience.

    Hazardous Substances

    RoHS

    Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2) recast

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months
    Risk Management

    ISO 31000

    ISO 31000:2018 Risk management — Guidelines

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    Key Features

    • Eight principles guiding effective risk management
    • Leadership commitment and governance integration
    • Iterative process for risk assessment and treatment
    • Customized to organizational context and risks
    • Non-certifiable flexible guidelines for all sectors

    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 covers all EEE unless excluded, using homogeneous material approach with 0.1% thresholds (0.01% for cadmium).

    Key Components

    • Ten restricted substances: Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr(VI), PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP.
    • Annexes III/IV for time-limited exemptions.
    • IEC 63000 for technical documentation; IEC 62321 for testing.
    • Compliance via EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) and technical files, no pre-certification.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Mandated for EU market access; prevents fines, recalls. Drives supply chain governance, substitution innovation, recyclability. Enhances ESG reputation, level playing field.

    Implementation Overview

    Risk-based: scope analysis, BoM review, supplier declarations, tiered testing (XRF screening, ICP-MS/GC-MS confirmation), technical files (10-year retention). Applies to manufacturers/importers of EEE; high complexity for complex supply chains; Member State enforcement.

    ISO 31000 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 31000:2018, Risk management — Guidelines is an international standard providing non-certifiable guidelines for systematic risk management. Its primary purpose is to help organizations of any size or sector manage uncertainty affecting objectives, using a principles-based, iterative approach focused on creating and protecting value.

    Key Components

    • **Three pillars8 principles (e.g., integrated, customized, dynamic), framework (leadership, integration, design, implementation, evaluation, improvement), and process (communication, scope/context/criteria, assessment, treatment, monitoring/review, recording/reporting).
    • No fixed controls; flexible, PDCA-aligned model.
    • Non-certifiable; relies on internal governance and assurance.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Enhances decision-making, resilience, and opportunity capture.
    • Builds stakeholder trust without legal mandates.
    • Supports compliance with sector regulations; competitive edge via better governance.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased roadmap: leadership alignment, gap analysis, pilot, rollout, monitoring.
    • Applicable universally; tailored by context.
    • No external certification; internal audits and reviews suffice. (178 words)

    Key Differences

    Scope

    RoHS
    Hazardous substances in EEE materials
    ISO 31000
    Enterprise-wide uncertainty on objectives

    Industry

    RoHS
    EEE manufacturers, EU/EEA focused
    ISO 31000
    All industries, sectors, organization sizes

    Nature

    RoHS
    Mandatory EU directive, market access
    ISO 31000
    Voluntary guidelines, non-certifiable

    Testing

    RoHS
    XRF screening, IEC 62321 lab tests
    ISO 31000
    Risk assessments, no mandated testing

    Penalties

    RoHS
    Fines, recalls, market bans by states
    ISO 31000
    No legal penalties, internal governance

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about RoHS and ISO 31000

    RoHS FAQ

    ISO 31000 FAQ

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