RoHS
The RoHS directive stands for the "restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment". This directive bans the placing on the EU market of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants.
WEEE
The WEEE directive stands for the "waste electrical and electronic equipment". This directive aims to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment, by increasing re-use and recycling and reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfill. It seeks to achieve this by making producers responsible for financing the collection, treatment, and recovery of waste electrical equipment, and by obliging distributors to allow consumers to return their waste equipment free of charge.
The REACH directive stands for the "regulation on registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals". This directive aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment with better and earlier identification of the intrinsic properties of chemical substances.