China RoHS testing methods are fully updated and adjusted

On January 25, 2024, the National Certification and Accreditation Administration issued Document No. 3 of 2024, an announcement on adjusting the applicable standards for the formulation of testing methods for the restricted use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products. The announcement mainly adjusts the testing methods of China RoHS from GB/T 26125 to GB/T 39560 series testing standards.

The main contents of the announcement are as follows:

In order to keep consistent with the international standards for testing methods of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products, smooth the industrial chain and supply chain, and facilitate trade in services, it is decided to adjust the testing method standards for the restricted use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products from GB/T 26125 "Determination of six restricted substances (lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in electronic and electrical products" to GB/T 39560.1, GB/T 39560.2, GB/T 39560.301, GB/T 39560.4, GB/T 39560.5, GB/T 39560.6, GB/T 39560.701, GB/T 39560.702, a total of 8 series of standards for the determination of certain substances in electronic and electrical products (hereinafter referred to as GB/T 39560 series standards).

The relevant requirements are announced as follows:

1. From March 1, 2024, the test methods for the restricted use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products shall be implemented in accordance with the GB/T 39560 series of standards.

2. Before March 1, 2024, for those who have completed the conformity assessment in accordance with GB/T 26125, the standard conversion shall be completed by natural transition methods such as expiration renewal and product changes.

3. Before March 1, 2024, products that have been shipped and imported do not need to be converted to standards.

Regulatory background:

As early as March 14, 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Electrical and Electronic Products Pollution Prevention and Control Standards Working Group held a video conference on deepening the management of restricted use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products. The meeting proposed that the next work plan of China RoHS will be carried out from four aspects: updating the test methods, adjusting the labeling requirements, upgrading the restricted substances, and implementing the supervision and management. This announcement officially determined the specific implementation time for the update of the test methods.

The GB/T 39560 series of test standards are equivalent to the IEC 62321 series of test methods. The announcement and adjustment of the test methods for hazardous substances in China RoHS by the National Certification and Accreditation Administration means that China RoHS will be officially aligned with international standards, greatly improving the universality of RoHS test data.