On 21 May 2024 the European Commission published Directive (EU) 2024/1416, which updates the expiry date of exemption 39(a) in Annex III of the EU RoHS Directive for cadmium selenide in cadmium based semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots used in display lighting, where cadmium is below 0.2 µg per mm² of display area, and adds a new exemption 39(b). The directive takes effect 20 days after publication. The exemptions are set out in the table below.

RoHS exemptions

Exemptions are an important part of the EU RoHS Directive.

Before an exemption expires, companies or industry associations may apply to the European Commission to extend it, 18 months in advance, and the Commission must assess the application and decide whether to extend or amend the exemption.

Validity of RoHS exemptions

A. If no interested party applies for an extension, the exemption expires automatically at the end of its term.
B. If a company or industry association applies for an extension, the exemption remains valid during the official assessment period. If the extension is granted, the Commission sets a new expiry date. If the application is rejected or the exemption is withdrawn, it ceases to apply 12 to 18 months from the date of the decision.