Directive Decoder

Phase one of China RoHS, declaration and labelling requirements, came into force on time in March 2007. The Phase two restrictions and catalogue of products was expected at the end of 2007, but it continued to slip. While there was a first draft in October 2009, concerns that the China RoHS process would be a barrier to trade continued to delay progress.

However, new standards enter into force on August 1, 2011. These include standards on the requirements for concentration limits of certain restricted substances in EEE and standards on EEE products covering the measurement of six regulated substances (lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in line with the scope of EU RoHS. One of the key messages is that the scope of controlled products will be extended from "electronic information products" to "electrical and electronic products" as was proposed in the draft measures for the pollution control of EEE dated July 16, 2010. China authorities are working on the following additional China RoHS standards that will be published soon:

One of the most frequently asked questions at present is around cable and whether or not CE marking / a declaration will be required under the RoHS Recast Directive.

As it stands this remains unclear and we await further guidance from the EC.

Directive Decoder

Very popular question at the minute around when the CE Mark obligations included in the RoHS Recast will kick in, especially as some Member States are expected to transpose into national law sooner than the specified 18 months.

According to the "UK Enforcers" 2/1/2013 is a common date for when the CE obligations will enter into force regardless of how quickly a Member State transposes the Recast into national law.

Directive Decoder

Without doubt a hot topic at present is the CE Mark implications of the RoHS Directive.

Follow the link to a summary:

CE Mark / RoHS

Directive Decoder

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has announced a 45 day consultation on 20 Substances of Very High Concern with a view to adding to the Candidate List for authorisation.

Link to further information

Directive Decoder