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A shipment of IEC connectors can be delayed at customs for a simple reason: the compliance documents are incomplete.
You may already have the commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading. But if the broker asks for proof of RoHS or REACH compliance and you cannot provide it, the shipment may be held until the required documents are submitted.
For buyers, this can quickly become more than a paperwork issue. Customs delays can affect delivery schedules, increase storage costs, and disrupt production at the customer’s facility. That is why RoHS and REACH compliance should be checked before an order ships, not after the goods arrive at the port.
What RoHS Actually Does
RoHS stands for the Restriction of Hazardous Substances. It’s a European Union directive that limits how much of certain hazardous substances can be present in electrical and electronic equipment sold in the EU.
Lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium are the usual suspects. They show up in solders, plastic stabilizers, and plating processes, which is why they matter for connectors, power cords, switches, and wire harnesses. RoHS applies to the finished electrical product, meaning the part itself has to meet requirements.
What REACH Actually Does
REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. Where RoHS targets the finished product, REACH targets the chemicals themselves, wherever they appear.
Suppliers must tell customers about substances of very high concern (SVHCs) through safety data sheets and declarations. Because it covers all chemicals, not just electrical equipment, the same rules touch plastics, coatings, rubber boots on plugs, and assembly lubricants.
How the Two Rules Differ
People mix up RoHS and REACH all the time. Short version: RoHS is about what’s in the electrical product, targeting a defined list of hazardous substances. REACH is about the chemicals themselves across all products, working through registration and supply chain communication rather than a single product-level ban.
RoHS gets verified with test reports and declarations of conformity. REACH gets verified with chemical registrations, safety data sheets, and SVHC declarations. One is a product standard; the other is a chemical management system.
What We Hand Over With Every Order
At LANZ, a customer who asks for compliance documents gets a specific file without drama. Here is what we provide:
RoHS Test Report
From an accredited third-party laboratory, dated and tied to a specific part or product family.
Declaration of Conformity
The formal statement that the product meets applicable requirements, covering RoHS and other directives.
REACH SVHC Statement
A statement on substances of very high concern, plus safety data sheets for any materials where they apply.
How We Handle Verification on Our Side
Any supplier can write “RoHS compliant” in an email. Verification is what separates a real compliance program from marketing language, and we built ours around strict checks.
Start with the laboratory. A credible RoHS report comes from an accredited third-party lab, not in-house testing. We test through independent labs, and the reports name the lab, the date, and the product family. Materials change, so a report from four years ago tells you little. That’s why we re-verify when plating finishes, plastic compounds, or solder formulations change.
Why This Matters Beyond Europe
If you only ship to North America, it’s tempting to treat RoHS and REACH as someone else’s problem. That’s a mistake. Many countries outside the EU have built their own regulations on the same model.
The paperwork is a quality signal. A supplier that tracks substances, tests materials, and keeps declarations current has real quality systems underneath. The file tells you more about the factory than the website does. When your customer’s compliance team emails for the RoHS file, you want to forward it, not explain why you don’t have it.
The Document Checklist to Request
Before you approve a supplier or place your next order, ensure they can provide these files:
- RoHS test reports from an accredited third-party lab, dated and tied to your part numbers
- Declaration of Conformity for each product family
- REACH statement on substances of very high concern
- Safety data sheets for any applicable materials
- A statement on how the supplier re-verifies compliance when materials change
- A named contact who can answer compliance questions and provide updated documents
The container sitting in customs is a scene you can skip. Ask for the documents early, check them against what you’re buying, and buy from suppliers who back up their words on paper. If you want to see the compliance file before you order, contact our team and we’ll send it over. That’s what RoHS REACH compliance means for your electrical components: not a form to file, but a routine part of buying parts you can stand behind.
