RoHS isn't a requirement that applies to consumers, incl hobbyists who might tinker with the product. It applies only to manufacturers. We - hobbyists - can repair even brand new RoHS compliant gear using tin-lead solder if we want to.
RoHS is an EU thing dating from early 2003 that expanded industry wide because industry wants to do business with the EU. I have no idea how the low/no-lead portion of it was ever incorporated into products made for applications in space... since the problem of "tin whiskers" (Google it) in pure (or almost pure) tin solder was documented back when vacuum tubes were king and solid state didn't exist - in the early part of the 20th century.
We (the USA) have had at least one satellite failure and one nuclear plant malfunction due to tin whiskers. In the case of a satellite - even a big expensive commsat as was the case - it's not really convenient to go up there to fix a connection that's growing a whisker that has caused a short circuit even if the short hasn't caused permanent damage. RoHS solder formulation has improved since those days and conformal coating over completed boards takes care of any remaining risk. Conformal coatings in consumer products make repairs much more difficult.
Jim H
Received from Tony Smith at 10/28/2020 04:43 UTC:
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RoHS doesn't bother a lot of people, even if you're repairing old gear where the tracks fall off if you look at them funny you're still allowed to use leaded solder. They're full of lead and god only know what so redoing a couple of joints in lead-free isn't going to save too many whales.
It's not all that complicated, just mainly nit-picking pedantic pen-pushing stuff. I work in IT dealing with money, so I'm used to that sort of thing.
If you making laptops or whatever you get a statement from whom you buy solder, PCB, wire etc from that says how much lead is in it. You staple all those together and send it off to the EU and say "our laptops are made from this"? and everyone is happy. Of course this means you can't buy the cheapest solder from Honest Johns Alibaba shop and things are a bit more difficult if you actually make solder, but that's not most of us.
Tony
