RoHS, short for Restriction of Hazardous Substances, is specific to the European Union. The law revolves the handling of hazardous materials, ranging from manufacturing to the disposal of the material. While created inside of Europe for members of the European Union, other regions around the world have utilized and created offshoots of the RoHS. This includes nations throughout Asia (China, Japan and South Korea) and versions of it inside of North America as well. Manufacturers of hazardous material must become RoHS compliant in order to sell and distribute the product inside of the European Union, which is exactly why it is so vital for a company to obtain these credentials.

Benefits:

• Increase of communication across the supply chain serves as a platform for the implementation of reach and other initiatives.
• Tighter process control, overall reduced number of defects and increased production efficiency.
• Increased skill levels in the global workforce due to retraining and the knowledge transfer to Asia and less developed countries. In addition, "Japanese people and knowledge are seeking inspiration in Europe and the US".
• Competitive advantage for EU manufacturers in markets where RoHS legislation is pending or contemplated.