Differences between RoHS in China and RoHS in the European Union

In daily life, we are increasingly inseparable from electronic products. There are differences between EU RoHS and China RoHS in terms of control scope, controlled substances, regulatory systems, certification, self declaration, labeling requirements, testing institutions, testing methods, and public disclosure requirements. The EU's RoHS mainly focuses on the circulation sector, while China's RoHS has also strengthened regulation in the production process. The two are also different in terms of controlled substances, with fewer RoHS controlled substances in China.

1. Different control ranges

EU RoHS: regulates electronic and electrical products with DC voltage of 1500 volts and AC voltage below 1000 volts, except for exempted products.

China RoHS: refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, electric water heaters, printers, copiers, fax machines, televisions, monitors, microcomputers, mobile communication handheld devices, telephone standalone devices. On March 15, 2019, the first batch of 12 categories of electrical and electronic products that met the management catalog were included.

2. Different controlled substances

The EU RoHS controls 10 substances: lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (CrVI), polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDE), di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), toluene butyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP).

The controlled substances for RoHS in China are six: lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (CrVI), polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).

3. Different regulatory systems for production processes

EU RoHS: Regulatory methods mainly rely on spot checks in the circulation sector.

China RoHS: There is regulation in the field of circulation, and regulatory measures have been strengthened in the production process (supervised by the Municipal Supervision Bureau and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology). China RoHS requires product manufacturing enterprises in the management directory to choose voluntary certification or self declaration, and input information into a unified platform.

4. Different certifications

EU RoHS: EU RoHS does not have mandatory certification requirements, but the EU has established a hazardous substance process management system requirement IECQ-QC080000. Enterprises voluntarily apply for certification, and the basic framework of this system is ISO 9001.

China RoHS: It is necessary to choose between "National Voluntary Certification" and "Self Declaration". There are four types of certification methods for National Voluntary Certification.

5. Self declaration

EU RoHS: No mandatory requirements.

China RoHS: Must choose between "National Voluntary Certification" and "Self Declaration".

6. Identification requirements

EU RoHS: No labeling requirements.

China RoHS: The "Management Measures for the Use of Green Product Labels" with labeling requirements will be officially implemented from June 1, 2019.

7. Requirements for testing institutions

EU RoHS: Provide third-party testing reports as needed.

China RoHS:

(1) National voluntary certification: The testing of certified samples should be completed by inspection and testing institutions that have signed a contract with the certification agency and meet the relevant capabilities and qualification requirements.

(2) The testing report in the self declaration can come from a laboratory owned by the producer, production enterprise, etc. that meets the corresponding technical capabilities, or it can be a qualified third-party inspection and testing institution, or a compliance report compiled by the supplier based on the determination of harmful substances in all components, components, and raw materials.

8. Detection methods and splitting rules

EU RoHS: IEC 62321.

China ROHS:

Limit values and disassembly requirements shall be implemented in accordance with GB/T26572 standard

The testing method shall be carried out in accordance with the GB/T 26125 standard

9. Publicity requirements

EU RoHS:

There is no mandatory requirement, mainly to transmit relevant information between upstream and downstream of the supply chain.

China RoHS:

Both national voluntary certification and self declaration need to be reported to the Public Service Platform for Restricting the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products to achieve data sharing.

It should be noted that although there are some differences in the restrictions on harmful substances between China's RoHS and the EU's RoHS, both aim to protect the environment and human health, and limit the use of harmful substances in electronic and electrical products. Enterprises need to comply with applicable RoHS regulations when selling products to ensure that they meet relevant standards and obtain certification.