EU RoHS Certification

RoHS is the abbreviation for the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive issued by the European Union. This directive aims to restrict the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, protecting human health and environmental safety. The RoHS directive has become a global benchmark for electronic and electrical Products One of the most influential regulations in the field of environmental protection, which has been followed by many countries and regions (such as China RoHS, Japan RoHS, California RoHS, etc.).

The RoHS directive has undergone multiple revisions. The original version was 2002/95/EC, published in 2003, which restricted 6 hazardous substances. In 2011, a recast version 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2) was published, expanding the scope of controlled products and adding CE marking requirements. In 2015, the European Commission published amendment (EU) 2015/863, adding phthalate substances to the restriction list, increasing restricted substances from 6 to 10, commonly referred to as RoHS 2.0 or RoHS 10 substances.

The RoHS directive applies to electrical and electronic equipment with a rated voltage not exceeding 1000 V (AC) or 1500 V (DC). According to the RoHS 2 classification, products are divided into 11 categories (Annex I). In addition to restricting hazardous substance content, RoHS 2 also requires manufacturers to prepare technical documentation, sign a declaration of conformity, and affix the CE mark, integrating RoHS requirements into the CE certification system.

In addition to the CE mark, certain specific labels are also related to RoHS. For example, environmental labels (such as the crossed-out trash can icon) can be used on product packaging to indicate that the product is not ordinary household waste. Some manufacturers also affix "RoHS Compliant" text labels on products or packaging as a marketing tool.

Heavy metal test methods: Lead and cadmium typically use IEC 62321-4 (determination of lead and cadmium using ICP-OES, ICP-MS, or AAS methods) and IEC 62321-5 (determination of lead and cadmium using ICP-OES, ICP-MS, or AAS methods). Mercury testing follows IEC 62321-4. Hexavalent chromium testing follows IEC 62321-7-1 (hexavalent chromium in metallic materials) or IEC 62321-7-2 (hexavalent chromium in polymers and electronic materials), using colorimetric or boiling water extraction methods.

Flame retardant testing: PBB and PBDE testing follows IEC 62321-6, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Phthalate testing follows IEC 62321-8, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). These tests typically require specialized chemical analysis laboratories and precision instruments (such as ICP-MS, GC-MS, etc.).

Testing strategy: For complex electronic products with many material types, a combined approach of screening and precise analysis is typically used. First, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is used for non-destructive screening to quickly identify materials and areas that may exceed limits. Then, precise chemical analysis (such as ICP-OES, GC-MS, etc.) is performed on suspicious samples from the screening results to issue a formal test report.

The core concept of RoHS testing is "homogeneous material." Limits apply to each homogeneous material, not to the entire product or component. For example, a wire consists of two homogeneous materials: the conductor (copper) and the insulation (PVC), and the content of lead, cadmium, and other substances in the insulation must be tested separately. Solder used for welding is itself a homogeneous material that requires separate evaluation. Correctly understanding the concept of homogeneous material is critical for developing test plans and interpreting results.