On 8 August 2025 Brazil's National Environment Council (CONAMA) formally opened a public consultation on the draft RoHS regulation for electrical and electronic equipment. The consultation ran for 45 days until 24 September. Modelled on the EU RoHS Directive, the regulation restricts the use of specific hazardous substances in electronic products and marks a substantive step by Brazil towards international standards in environmental management of electronics.

Technical requirements

Under the draft, the regulation restricts ten hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and four phthalates. Maximum permitted concentrations are generally 0.1%, and 0.01% for cadmium, consistent with the current EU RoHS Directive. The scope covers all electrical and electronic equipment sold in Brazil, including household appliances, information technology equipment, lighting and medical devices, with exemptions for categories such as defence equipment, aerospace applications, large-scale industrial equipment, vehicles and research and development equipment. The draft also requires products to be marked with the model, manufacturer information and an environmental recycling symbol, the crossed-out wheeled bin, with a two-year transition period for the label.

Legislative background

The legislative process is an important signal of a shift in Brazilian environmental policy. The draft is led by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change with support from the National Chemical Safety Commission, reflecting the Lula administration's emphasis on environmental protection. Since the National Solid Waste Policy of 2010 Brazil has continued to improve its e-waste management system, and the RoHS regulation will complement the existing reverse logistics system by controlling electronic waste pollution at both source and end of life. Once formally adopted and published in the Official Gazette the regulation takes effect immediately and will significantly affect manufacturers, importers and distributors operating in Brazil, pushing the industry towards greener and more sustainable practice.