This document contains the text of the European Union directive, adopted in February 2003, restricting the use of certain hazardous materials in the manufacture of electronics. The directive serves as a guide for EU member countries in adopting their own standards but in general requires the substitution of various heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium, and brominated flame retardants such as polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in new electrical and electronic equipment put on the market after July 1, 2006.