On 10 July 2026 the Brazilian National Environment Council (CONAMA) published Resolution No. 516/2026 in a supplement to the Official Gazette, restricting the use of ten hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment manufactured, imported, distributed and sold in Brazil. The resolution took effect on the date of publication. Widely described in the industry as Brazil's RoHS, it concludes nearly a decade of legislative work since the first draft was proposed in 2018, and its restricted substances and limits are aligned with EU Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS).

What the regulation covers

The resolution applies to electrical and electronic equipment rated at not more than 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC, including cables and spare parts used for repair, reuse and functional upgrading. It covers household appliances, information and telecommunications equipment, lighting equipment, consumer electronics, photovoltaic modules, power tools, toys, medical devices, and monitoring and control instruments. Military and defence equipment, aerospace equipment, large-scale fixed industrial installations, transport means, implantable medical devices, professionally installed photovoltaic systems and batteries are out of scope.

Of the ten restricted substances, lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and four phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP) are limited to 0.1 percent by weight in homogeneous materials, while cadmium is limited to 0.01 percent. Compliance deadlines are staggered: PBB and PBDE must comply as soon as the resolution took effect, mercury within 180 days, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and lead within three years of publication, and the four phthalates within four years of publication.

The resolution also establishes a temporary exemption mechanism for specific applications where no technically feasible substitute exists, where the reliability of a substitute is not assured, or where substitution would do more harm than good. The Ministry of the Environment (MMA) is to publish the first exemption list and the application procedure within 180 days. Exemption renewals must be filed 18 months in advance, and exemptions that are refused or withdrawn benefit from a 12 to 18 month transition period. The list of restricted substances is to be reviewed and updated at least every five years.

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