Legal abbreviation: ROHS

Introduction to regulations

The core content of the EU RoHS Directive is to limit the use of toxic substances in electrical and electronic equipment, protect the environment, provide green consumption, and achieve destructive and harmless production and consumption. RoHS lists a total of six hazardous substances: lead Pb, cadmium Cd, mercury Hg, hexavalent chromium Cr6+, polybrominated biphenyl PBB and polybrominated diphenyl ether PBDE.

RoHS Directive

RoHS For all electrical and electronic products that may contain the above six hazardous substances in all production processes and raw materials, including:

1. Large household appliances;

2. Small household appliances;

3. IT and communication equipment;

4. Consumer electronic and electrical equipment;

5. Lighting equipment;

6. Electronic and electrical tools (except large fixed industrial tools);

7. Toys, leisure and sports equipment;

8, vending machine medical equipment, etc.;

9, medical equipment

10. Monitoring and control equipment

11. Other electrical and electronic products not included in the above ten categories

Attention issues within the scope of the RoHS Directive

(1) Domestic incandescent bulbs and light sources, not required in the WEEE Directive, are within the scope of the RoHS Directive.

(2) Excluding:

1 Products originally marketed and reused before July 1, 2006.

2 Repair spare parts placed on the market before July 1, 2006.

3 Classes 8 and 9 of the WEEE Directive for Medical Equipment or Monitoring Equipment.

4 Electrical and electronic equipment (such as military aviation, aerospace equipment, etc.) involving military or national security.

Subject to the WEEE and RoHS directives

(1) The WEEE and RoHS directives follow the principles of the EU's environmental policy: polluters pay, the manufacturer of the product is considered a polluter and is obligated to handle it.

(2) For the question of who is the manufacturer: 1 Those who manufacture and sell products with their own brands 2 Those who sell other products with their own brands 3 Import the products to importers of EU member states.

(3) "Seller" means any person who can provide electronic and electrical equipment to the user on a commercial basis.

※ At what stage and where does the EU countries determine whether the products exported to their countries meet the requirements of the “RoHS”?

According to EU regulations, it is determined by customs inspection at the time of import or by spot check in the consumer market.

※ Can the customs supervision departments of EU countries require the importer to provide documents that comply with the “RoHS” document?

The manufacturer can provide the company's RoHS-compliant self-declaration based on the test report.

※ If electronic, electrical and other products are found to be in violation of RoHS regulations, who is responsible for it?

Responsible by the supplier of the product, if your supplier has a system to sign a letter of commitment, he is to ensure that the goods submitted are RoHS compliant, without re-adding the processing of the six restricted substances. The supplier will be responsible for the products he provides.

※ How to implement supervision and punishment for violation of ROHS directive?

 I. Official supervision: Customs of the EU countries or other relevant law enforcement agencies, etc.

    Objective: Perform law enforcement duties, etc.

    Behavior: After importing or inspecting and testing on the market, it is required to provide technical support documents that can prove compliance with the regulations, etc.

Second, civil supervision: competitors, civil society, consumers, etc.

    Purpose: suppressing opponents, group willingness, self-protection of malicious claims, etc.

    Behavior: found in the market, not satisfied with the goods, etc.

Punishment: 1 fine, 2 compensation, 3 responding, 4 recall, 5 completely expelled from the market, etc.
 
※ Cases that were punished for violating the ROHS directive

1. Once the ROHS directive is violated, the penalties faced by home appliance companies will be enormous. On December 4, 2001, the cable of the first-generation PlaystationI game console and accessories produced by Sony contained excessive amounts of harmful chemical element cadmium. The Dutch government issued a temporary sales ban on the above products.

2. During the inspection of a distribution center in Tilburg, the Netherlands, the Dutch Customs and the country's health inspection agency IHM discovered 1.3 million Playstation I game consoles and 800,000 accessories (total value of approximately US$162 million). The cable contains excessive cadmium. The case was fined 17 million euros, equivalent to more than 180 million yuan.

3. A similar case occurred in the United States, where 105 Japanese companies were charged that the lead content in the wire exceeded the California Article 65 (300 ppm) limit and the total amount of settlement gold was as high as $3 million.

※ What is the current situation of “RoHS” directives for local companies?

The electronics/electrical industry around the world is developing a corresponding approach to the “double directives”. Some large companies have long taken steps to implement product recycling and product compliance with RoHS directives. If SONY has already recycled the product, its digital camera has stated on the box: This product uses lead-free soldering; it is printed with lead-free ink.

China's major electronics and electrical appliance companies such as Kelon, Midea and Chigo in Guangdong have all responded adequately.
For the latest news on the RoHS Directive, please feel free to call us by email, thank you!