The Technical Regulation of the Eurasian Economic Union on the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrotechnical and Radio-electronic Products (EAEU TR 037/2016) entered into force on 1 March 2018.

This Technical Regulation restricts the content of six substances (lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in electrotechnical and electronic products. Generally, the concentration of cadmium may not exceed 0.01 per cent by weight in homogeneous materials used in electrotechnical and radio-electronic products. The other five substances must not exceed 0.1 wt%.

EAEU TR 037/2016 is developed to protect human life and health and the environment and prevent actions misleading consumers/users of electrotechnical and radio-electronic products as to the content of hazardous substances in them. EAEU TR 037/2016 is harmonized with technical requirements of the European Union, in particular with Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2), to improve the competitiveness of EAEU manufacturers and build up their export capacity. However, some provisions, first of all those related to the scope of application, are left at the level of repealed Directive 2002/95/EС (RoHS 1). This decision was taken because the EAEU member states hadn't had any national requirements restricting the content of hazardous substances in electrotechnical and radio-electronic products.

EAEU TR 037/2016 applies to household appliances and devices, IT equipment, telecommunication facilities, lighting and office equipment, electrical tools and electrical music instruments, sports and leisure equipment, gambling and vending machines, cash registers, cable products, protective cutout devices, fire/security detectors and other products, i.e. products which are manufactured and imported in significant quantities and therefore are largely responsible for the use of hazardous substances in the electrotechnical sector.

According to Decision No. 24 of the Collegium of the Eurasian Economic Commission of 28 February 2017 on Transitional Provisions of the Technical Regulation of the Eurasian Economic Union on the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrotechnical and Radio-electronic Products (EAEU TR 037/2016), these products may be manufactured and released into circulation in the EAEU countries without conformity assessment and documents proving their compliance with EAEU TR 037/2016 until 1 March 2020—in other words, less than a year ls left before this Technical Regulation becomes mandatory.

Belarus carries out procedures to assure conformity with EAEU TR 037/2016, European Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2) and similar requirements of other countries/regions.