EU RoHS exemptions for ultrasound and radiology are at a turning point
If your products need such exemptions, be aware this time renewal cannot be taken for granted. The European Commission is demanding stronger technical evidence, more detailed alternatives analysis and increasingly robust socio-economic justification. The old assumption that these exemptions will simply be renewed is no longer safe.
This is not just a regulatory issue. It could become a business issue for your company.
What happens if exemptions are restricted or revoked?
Depending on the final scope and duration of the exemptions, companies may face product redesign, forced technology changes, higher costs, new supply-chain risks, licensing costs, market disruption
Restrictions could affect the availability and competitiveness of established products in the European market.
The question is no longer whether this may be happening. The question is whether your company is prepared to act to avoid such scenario.
Why industry participation matters now
Since 2011, COCIR has successfully defended the RoHS exemptions that underpin key ultrasound and radiology technologies. But the regulatory landscape has changed. We cannot rely on that model anymore.
This time, the strength of the industry's response will depend on how broadly companies engage.
Your voice matters. COCIR can help make it heard.
Companies can play a crucial role by:
- Engaging directly with the European Commission when opportunities arise
- Participating in public consultations and stakeholder events
- Explaining, in their own words, how the proposed changes would affect their products, technologies and operations
- Sharing their practical experience with alternatives and the consequences of moving away from established solutions
- Supporting a coordinated industry position under COCIR's guidance
Riccardo Corridori
Sustainability Director at COCIR
[email protected]
+32 (0) 485 67 32 81
An industry speaking together is much harder to ignore.
If the industry stands back, the Commission will make its assessment based on the information and voices that reach it. If the industry stands together, companies across the value chain can demonstrate the real consequences of regulatory change—and make sure those consequences are part of the decision.