Changes to China RoHS Testing Standards
Effective from 1 March 2024, the China National Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) implements new testing standards for the China RoHS compliance. This change follows CNCA's Announcement No. 3 of 2024, aiming to align with global standards for determining hazardous substances in electronic and electrical products.
Under the new regulation, the existing GB/T 26125 testing standard, which focused on the determination of six regulated substances, was replaced by the GB/T 39560 series testing standards, which corresponds to the IEC 62321 series applied for EU RoHS compliance.
The GB/T 39560 series includes standards for determining substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, total chromium, and total bromine in various electronic components.
A summary of the GB/T 39560 series and its correlation with the IEC 62321 series is listed below:
| GB/T Standard # | GB/T Standard Name | Corresponding IEC Standard # |
|---|---|---|
| GB/T 39560.1-2020 | Determination of certain substances in electrical and electronic products - Part 1: Introduction and overview | IEC 62321-1:2013 |
| GB/T 39560.2-2020 | Determination of certain substances in electrical and electronic products - Part 2: Disassembly, disjointment and mechanical sample preparation | IEC 62321-2:2013 |
| GB/T 39560.301-2020 | Determination of certain substances in electrical and electronic products - Part 3-1: Screening lead, mercury, cadmium, total chromium and total bromine by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry | IEC 62321-3-1:2013 |
| GB/T 39560.4-2021 | Determination of certain substances in electrical and electronic products - Part 4: Mercury in polymers, metals and electronics by CV-AAS, CV-AFS, ICP-OES and ICP-MS | IEC 62321-4:2013 |
| GB/T 39560.5-2021 | Determination of certain substances in electrical and electronic products - Part 5: Cadmium, lead andchromium in polymers and electronics and cadmium and lead in metals by AAS, AFS, ICP-OES and ICP-MS | IEC 62321-5:2013 |
| GB/T 39560.6-2020 | Determination of certain substances in electrical and electronic products - Part 6: Polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in polymers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) | IEC 62321-6:2015 |
| GB/T 39560.701-2020 | Determination of certain substances in electrical and electronic products - Part 7-1:Hexavalent chromium - Presence of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] in colorless and colored corrosion-protected coatings on metals by the colorimetric method | IEC 62321-7-1:2015 |
| GB/T 39560.702-2021 | Determination of certain substances in electrical and electronic products - Part 7-2:Hexavalent chrome - Determination of hexavalent chrome[Cr(VI)]in polymers and electronics by the colorimetric method | IEC 62321-7-2:2015 |
In addition, with reference to the announcement, the updated requirements are implemented as below:
| Date | Corresponding action(s) |
|---|---|
| From 1 March, 2024 | Testing methods for conducting conformity assessment activities for the restricted use of hazardous substances (RoHS) will be implemented in accordance with GB/T 39560 series of standards |
| Before 1 March, 2024 | If the conformity assessment is completed with reference GB/T 26125, the standard conversion (to GB/T 39560 series) will be completed through normal transition methods, such as expiration of certificate renewal or product change |
| If products have been shipped / imported to China before 1 March, 2024, these products do not require to undergo standard conversion (to GB/T 39560 series) |
Referencing the announcement, the updated requirements will be implemented as follows:
From 1 March 2024, conformity assessments for restricted use of hazardous substances (RoHS) will follow the GB/T 39560 series.
Before 1 March 2024, if conformity assessments were completed under GB/T 26125, the transition to GB/T 39560 series will be completed through regular methods, such as certificate renewal or product changes.
Products shipped or imported to China before 1 March 2024 do not require standard conversion.
This update is crucial for brands, retailers, and manufacturers, as it aligns China RoHS standards with the globally recognized IEC 62321 series, facilitating compliance for companies operating in both Chinese and European markets.
By adhering to the new GB/T 39560 series, businesses can ensure RoHS compliance and avoid non-compliance issues. To ensure compliance with RoHS regulations, it is recommended to have RoHS compliance testing conducted by a reliable third-party provider such as QIMA.
For the latest updates on product safety standards and regulations, visit Regulatory Updates. We provide regular updates to help you stay informed and ensure compliance with the latest requirements.
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