C
Cadmium (Cd)
Definition
Cadmium (Cd) is one of the ten restricted hazardous substances under RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU. It is restricted in all EEE at a maximum concentration value of 0.01% (100 ppm) by weight per homogeneous material — the strictest of all RoHS substance limits. Cadmium is used in electroplating, pigments, stabilisers, and certain semiconductor applications. Directive (EU) 2024/1416 (published May 21, 2024) narrowed the exemption for cadmium in LED chips: Annex III entry 39(a) expired November 21, 2025; entry 39(b) was created with a revised, narrower scope for specific remaining applications.
Source
Directive 2011/65/EU, Annex II, Article 4(1); Directive (EU) 2024/1416 (May 21, 2024); Annex III entry 39(b).
Practical Explanation (Compliance Context)
The cadmium limit (0.01%) is 10 times stricter than any other RoHS restricted substance. Manufacturers using cadmium-containing plating, pigments, or semiconductor components must confirm compliance with this strict threshold. For LED applications, manufacturers must assess whether their use falls within the revised entry 39(b) exemption scope following the November 2025 expiry of entry 39(a). Quantum dot displays using cadmium-based quantum dots require particular attention given the tightening exemption regime.