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With the gradual increase of global environmental awareness, the EU ROHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive has an increasing impact on various industries. Especially in the field of electronic products, the update and revision of the ROHS standard requires companies not only to improve production technology, but also need to have a deeper understanding of the details of the environmental standards. Since its first implementation in 2003, the ROHS Directive has been one of the standards for the global electronics industry, regulating the use of hazardous substances in electronic and electrical products with the aim of protecting the environment and human health.
With the advancement of technology and increased environmental requirements, the European Union (EU) has revised the ROHS Directive for the 10th time in 2021 and proposed ten new standards, which will have a far-reaching impact on the global electronics market in the next few years. In this article, we will analyze these ten new ROHS standards in depth to help enterprises understand the environmental intent behind them and explore how to respond to these new requirements.
1. New scope of control of hazardous substances
Since ROHS 2.0, the scope of hazardous substances covered by the directive has been gradually expanded, in particular, several new restrictions on highly hazardous substances have been added. The latest version of ROHS 3.0 goes even further by including more hazardous substances in the scope of control. For example, restrictions on certain solvents, plasticizers and special metals have become more stringent. This means that companies must pay particular attention to the raw materials they choose when designing and manufacturing their products to ensure that banned hazardous substances are not used.
2. Enhancing recycling and reuse requirements
An important update to the 10 new ROHS standards is the further strengthening of the requirements for recycling and reuse. As global resources become increasingly scarce, environmental authorities are emphasizing the need for companies to establish effective recycling mechanisms to promote the recycling of resources. This is not only a requirement for the production process, but also for the overall product life cycle. Enterprises should invest more in waste recycling technology and look for ways to increase the recycling rate.
3. Enhanced product labeling and documentation requirements
In order to better protect consumers and market transparency, the ROHS standard imposes higher requirements for product labeling and compliance documentation. According to the latest standard, electronic products must be sold with a clear declaration of compliance, and all key information on ROHS compliance must be marked on the product label. This requirement will enhance consumer protection and help identify green products in the marketplace.
4. conformity assessment and third-party testing
The revision of ROHS 3.0 also introduces requirements for conformity assessment, including strengthening the certification of third-party testing organizations. In order to ensure that their products meet environmental requirements, companies need to be certified by a third-party organization and ensure that each batch of their products undergoes the relevant environmental tests. This not only helps to enhance the market reputation of the product, but also prevents non-compliance.
5. Strengthening the monitoring and control of hazardous substance emissions
Another important change in the revision of the ROHS standard is that it strengthens the monitoring of hazardous emissions during the production process. Enterprises are required to submit emission data on a regular basis and keep detailed records of emissions. This means that companies will need to invest more resources in environmental monitoring during the production process and to ensure compliance throughout the supply chain.
6. Application of new materials and alternatives
With the development of new material technologies, many banned hazardous substances can be replaced by alternative materials, and the ROHS standard encourages companies to actively develop and use these environmentally friendly materials. For example, in the design of lithium batteries, printed circuit boards (PCBs), and plastic enclosures, safer and more environmentally friendly materials should be selected. Companies must strengthen their research and development of new materials to meet the demands of the market and the ROHS standard.
7. Strengthening management of suppliers
The ROHS standard requires companies to not only monitor their own products for compliance, but also to manage every link in the supply chain. This includes rigorous screening of raw materials supplied by suppliers to ensure that they comply with ROHS requirements. Therefore, companies should establish long-term relationships with their suppliers and set clear compliance requirements to avoid product non-compliance due to supplier issues.
8. Expanding coverage of the secondary market
The latest revision of ROHS extends the scope of regulation of products in the second-hand market. Used electronic products are a huge market with a wide demand in many countries and regions. These second-hand products may not comply with the latest ROHS standards. In order to minimize the potential environmental hazards of these products, the ROHS standard regulates the second-hand market, and companies are required to comply with environmental regulations when handling second-hand products.
9. Increased reporting and review requirements
Under the latest revision, the ROHS standard has strengthened the requirements for the reporting and auditing process. Each year, companies are required to submit a compliance report to the relevant authorities and undergo a compliance audit. This means that companies are required to maintain a detailed compliance file during the production process, which can be inspected by regulatory authorities at any time. This measure will help enhance the transparency of green products in the market and provide greater consumer protection.
10. Promoting global harmonization of standards
Although the ROHS standard originated in the European Union, its influence has spread globally, especially in Asia and the Americas. The latest revision of ROHS further promotes the consistency of environmental standards on a global scale. With more countries and regions incorporating ROHS standards into their regulatory frameworks, companies not only need to pay attention to the requirements of the EU market, but should also anticipate the needs of the global market. This change will encourage more companies to make ROHS compliance an important competitive advantage in the international arena.
How to respond to the challenge of ROHS standard for enterprises
Actively investing in R&D to develop environmentally friendly materials
In the face of increasingly stringent ROHS requirements, companies must invest more in research and development, especially in environmentally friendly materials and alternative technologies. For example, the development of electronic components free of hazardous substances such as lead, cadmium and mercury, as well as the use of recyclable materials, has become the key to future competition.
Enhance compliance management to ensure product standards are met
Enterprises should establish a comprehensive compliance management system to monitor each production stage, from the selection of raw materials to the delivery of the final product, to ensure that each product complies with ROHS standards. Enterprises should also conduct regular self-checks and make adjustments according to the latest regulatory requirements.
Strengthening Supply Chain Cooperation to Ensure Chain-wide Compliance
ROHS is not only a requirement for manufacturers, but also for suppliers and distributors. Companies need to work closely with suppliers to ensure that the raw materials and components they supply are environmentally friendly. At the same time, companies should strengthen compliance communication with suppliers to ensure compliance throughout the supply chain.
Conclusion
With the increasing global awareness of environmental protection, ROHS standard is not only a legal requirement, but also an important weight for enterprises to compete in the international market. By complying with ROHS requirements, enterprises can not only reduce environmental pollution, but also gain more trust and opportunities in the market. Therefore, enterprises should regard ROHS standard as a long-term strategy for future development and actively invest resources to meet the challenges of the global green market.
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