The full name of RoHS Certification is "Restriction of Hazardous Substances", namely the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive. It is a mandatory environmental regulation formulated by the European Union, with the core purpose of restricting the use of toxic and hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment and reducing hazards to human health and the environment.

I. Core Controlled Scope and Substances

1. The Applicable Products originally covered eight categories of electrical and electronic equipment (such as home appliances, IT equipment, communication equipment, lighting equipment, toys, etc.). The revised RoHS 2.0 (Directive 2011/65/EU) issued in 2019 extended the scope to all electrical and electronic equipment (excluding products on the exemption list).

2. Controlled Substances and Limit Values RoHS 2.0 controls 10 hazardous substances, with the following limit requirements (all by weight percentage):

   Substance Name	Limit Value	Main Hazards
   Lead (Pb)	0.1%	Damages nervous system and hematopoietic system
   Mercury (Hg)	0.1%	Damages kidneys and central nervous system
   Cadmium (Cd)	0.01%	Carcinogenic, damages kidneys and bones
   Hexavalent Chromium (Cr⁶⁺)	0.1%	Carcinogenic, irritates skin and mucous membranes
   Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs)	0.1%	Persistent organic pollutants, endocrine disruptors
   Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)	0.1%	Same as above
   Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP)	0.1%	Reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption
   Butyl Benzyl Phthalate (BBP)	0.1%	Same as above
   Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)	0.1%	Same as above
   Diisobutyl Phthalate (DIBP)	0.1%	Same as above

II. Certification Nature and Compliance Requirements

1. Certification Nature RoHS is not a traditional "third-party certification", but a self-declaration compliance regime:

• Enterprises shall prove their products meet limit requirements through testing or supply chain assessment;

• Compile Technical Documentation and Declaration of Conformity (DoC);

• Mark the CE Mark on products or packaging (RoHS is one of the prerequisites for the CE Mark).

2. Testing and Compliance Process

1. Confirm whether the product falls within RoHS controlled scope and check exemption clauses;

2. Conduct hazardous substance testing on homogeneous materials of products (to be completed by accredited laboratories);

3. Collect supply chain material declarations (such as RoHS certificates of conformity provided by suppliers);

4. Compile technical documentation and Declaration of Conformity, affix CE Mark, then products can be placed on the EU market.

III. Notes

1. Differences from China RoHS China has also issued the corresponding Measures for the Administration of Pollution Control of Electronic Information Products (commonly known as China RoHS). Its controlled substances are basically consistent with EU RoHS, but it adopts a catalog management + self-declaration implementation mode with a relatively narrower control scope.

2. Common Misconceptions

• Misconception 1: "RoHS certification certificate is a mandatory document for entering the EU market" — The EU does not mandate third-party certificates; the Declaration of Conformity is the core document, and third-party test reports only serve as compliance supporting evidence.

• Misconception 2: "All products require RoHS compliance" — Exempt products (such as medical equipment, aerospace equipment, etc.) are temporarily exempted from implementation.

3. Linkage with Dual Carbon Goals and Sustainable Development Most hazardous substances controlled by RoHS are highly polluting and non-biodegradable. Compliant products are easier to recycle and reuse, complying with development requirements of green supply chains and circular economy under the Dual Carbon Goals, and also act as a key measure for enterprises to enhance market competitiveness.