Maximum Concentration Value (MCV)

Maximum concentration values (MCVs) are the substance-specific concentration limits above which a restricted substance is prohibited in a homogeneous material under RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU. The MCVs in Annex II are: 0.1% (1000 mg/kg or 1000 ppm) for lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺), PBBs, PBDEs, DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP; and 0.01% (100 mg/kg or 100 ppm) for cadmium (Cd). These limits apply per homogeneous material within the EEE, not per product or component. MCVs are not equivalent to maximum impurity levels — homogeneous materials containing restricted substances above the MCV must either use an applicable exemption or be eliminated from the product.

Directive 2011/65/EU, Annex II, Article 4(1).

MCVs are the core compliance threshold in RoHS. Manufacturers must confirm that every homogeneous material in their EEE products is below the applicable MCV for each restricted substance. For cadmium, the 0.01% limit is particularly stringent and often requires dedicated testing (as opposed to using supplier declarations alone). When test results show a substance is above the MCV but an applicable exemption exists, the exemption must be documented and its scope verified. No MCV exemption exists at the product level — only Annex III and IV entries exempt specific uses.