Conformity with China RoHS is mandatory for anyone introducing electrical or electronic equipment into China.
China RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), officially known as the Administrative Measure on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products, is a Chinese government regulation that restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products sold in China.
Complying with the European RoHS directive requirements is generally helpful. Indeed, both RoHS regulations share the same thresholds and the same controlled substances at the homogeneous material level:
China RoHS Restricted Chemicals | Threshold Limits |
|---|---|
Lead and lead compounds (Pb) | 0.1% (weight/weight) * |
Mercury and mercury compounds (Hg) | 0.1% (w/w) |
Cadmium and cadmium compounds (Cd) | 0.01% (w/w) ** |
Hexavalent chromium and compounds (Cr VI+) | 0.1% (w/w) |
Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) | 0.1% (w/w) |
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | 0.1% (w/w) |
Four phthalates (BBP, DBP, DEHP, and DIBP), per the mandatory RoHS standard GB/T 26572-2025 | 0.1% (w/w) |
* or 1000 parts per million (ppm)
** or 100 parts per million
However, this information alone does not establish compliance with the China RoHS regulation, i.e., Ministry of Industry and Information Technology MIIT Order #32 – Management Methods for the Restriction of the Use of hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products.
China RoHS primarily communicates hazardous substances above the threshold levels rather than limiting their concentrations.
Furthermore, every device placed in China requires a specific label and a RoHS table in Chinese, identifying restricted substances exceeding the general thresholds. If a product lacks the RoHS table or Environmental-Friendly Use Period (EFUP) label, authorities can easily identify non-compliance and retain the product at the border.
If none of the restricted substances exceed threshold limits, the green ‘e’ EFUP symbol must appear on the product. However, the green color is optional.
On the other hand, if any of the above-mentioned threshold limits are exceeded in the homogeneous materials level of a device, then:
GB 26572-2025 defines the requirements for the restricted use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products in China. It combines substance limits, labeling rules, and information disclosure requirements into a mandatory framework that becomes fully applicable on August 1, 2027.
Additionally, the standard classifies products into two categories:
GB 26572-2025 lists ten restricted substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBBs, PBDEs, and four phthalates (BBP, DBP, DEHP, and DIBP). Moreover, the standard references the GB/T 39560 series, which aligns with IEC 62321, for testing and analysis of hazardous substances.
Furthermore, the standard allows both physical and digital labeling formats, including on-product marks, electronic displays, and QR codes, provided that users can easily access the required information.
MIIT has published the Standard Achieving Management Catalogue for the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical Appliances and Electronic Products (2026 Edition), together with the 2026 Exemption List.
This update is important because products included in the Catalogue are no longer subject only to China RoHS information-disclosure requirements. They must also comply with the applicable substance restriction requirements under GB 26572-2025 and follow the China RoHS conformity assessment system.
The 2026 Catalogue significantly expands Category I products covering a total of 33 types of electrical and electronic products. This includes the following:
Product category | Products covered |
|---|---|
Appliances | Air conditioners, air purifiers, dishwashers, electric ovens, electric rice cookers, electric water heaters, household gas instantaneous water heaters, industrial laundry machinery, microwave ovens, robotic floor cleaners, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and water dispensers. |
Audio, video, and display equipment | Earphones/headphones, projectors, smart speakers, and televisions. |
Communication equipment | Mobile communication handheld terminals and telephone sets. |
Computers, servers, and network equipment | Network switching and routing equipment, microcomputers, and servers. |
Health-related electronic products | Blood glucose meters, electronic blood pressure monitors, and hearing aids. |
Lighting and toys | Electronic game toys and reading and writing desk lamps. |
Office and imaging equipment | Printers, copiers, scanners, fax machines, and multifunction devices. |
Security and monitoring equipment | Electronic smart locks and monitoring equipment. |
Wearables and portable electronics | Portable mobile power supplies and smart watches and wristbands. |
The 2026 Catalogue and Exemption List came into effect on the date of the MIIT announcement (May 28th, 2026). For newly added product categories and expanded categories, mandatory compliance is required by August 1, 2027, unless otherwise specified in the Catalogue.
Similar to the EU RoHS, restrictions on lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, DBP, DIBP, BBP, DEHP, PBBs, and PBDEs apply to these product categories.
To show compliance, producers must either choose:
It is no longer correct to treat the conformity assessment catalogue as a six-substance requirement only. Products within the 2026 Catalogue should be assessed against the ten restricted substances, unless an exemption applies.
Finally, depending on the adopted certification approach, compliant products must be marked with one of the following logos:
China’s National Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) plays a pivotal role in implementing and enforcing the China RoHS regulatory framework. CNCA acts as the central authority overseeing China’s conformity assessment system for electrical and electronic products. Its key responsibilities encompass:
In short, while the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is the primary policymaker for China RoHS, the CNCA coordinates with the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) and other relevant bodies to align certification, testing, and conformity assessment protocols.
China produces large quantities of electronics, which emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere, contaminating the air.
To fight air pollution in China, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China has published a ‘three-year action plan to win the battle for a blue sky’. As a result, four mandatory standards targeting VOCs were published in 2020:
These standards are NOT part of China RoHS. However, they impose limitations not only on VOCs, but also on heavy metals, halogenated hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other chemicals used in electronics production.
Anyone who places electrical or electronic equipment on the Chinese market must comply with China’s hazardous substance restrictions. Authorities can detain non-compliant products at the border.
China RoHS and the EU directive share the same substance thresholds and restricted chemicals at the homogeneous material level. However, China RoHS focuses on disclosure, labeling, and EFUP marking rather than strict concentration bans.
Each product must display an EFUP symbol and include a RoHS table in Simplified Chinese. If restricted substances exceed thresholds, the product must show an EFUP year, a manufacturing year, and an “X” in the substance table.
GB 26572-2025 defines mandatory substance limits, labeling rules, and information disclosure requirements. The standard lists ten restricted substances and allows both physical and digital labeling formats, including QR codes.
Yes. The 2026 Catalogue brings Catalogue products into the 10-substance restriction framework. DBP, DIBP, BBP, and DEHP must be considered according to the applicable implementation dates and exemptions.
You can choose two types of services for your China RoHS testing, declaration, and label logo symbol:
China RoHS vs EU RoHS: If you already have sufficient Europe RoHS technical documentation, Enviropass can reuse and adapt the information for China RoHS conformity at a fraction of the price.
With Classic China RoHS, you allow Enviropass to take over documentary assessments of your products.
Enviropass will also prepare a table in Simplified Chinese for each substance to be examined, along with the recommendation of the applicable EFUP marking.
Deluxe China RoHS service shows you how to fish! Indeed, Deluxe China RoHS includes: