BEIJING -- China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is seeking comments on a revised draft of its RoHS rules, Measures for Administration of the Pollution Control of Electronic and Electrical Products.

The comment period is open until July 10.

The new rules restrict use of certain hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium and flame retardants such as polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in electrical and electronic equipments and their packaging materials. The new draft offers up changes to the product scope, new labeling requirements, and lab testing rules.

Product scope. While the existing China RoHS regulates electronic information products which are referred to as electronic radar products, electronic communication products, broadcast and television products, computer products, household electronic products, electronic measurement instrument products, security products for electron, electronic component products, electronic application products, electronic material products, and other relative products and their accessory parts.

Products affected by new China RoHS include electrical and electronic equipments which are designed for use with a voltage rating not exceeding 1000 Volt for alternating current and 1500V for direct current (similar to EU RoHS) and its accessory parts. Many home appliances and electronic toys that fall out of the scope of old China RoHS will now be regulated by new China RoHS.

Labeling. The new rules require manufacturers and importers of electrical and electronic products to provide information about the impact of a product on environment and human health when the product is misused or disposed of. The new rule also requires the name and concentration of hazardous substances, the name of parts that contain hazardous substances, and whether a part or product can be recycled.

Certification. Under the old China RoHS, products listed in the Key Administrative Catalog for the Pollution Control of Electronic Information Products need to be tested by an approved labs in China and obtain CCC accreditation (China Compulsory Certification). Under the new China RoHS, the catalog will be renamed the  Target Administrative Catalog for the Pollution Control of Electrical and Electronic Products. Various government bodies will set a timeline to prohibit the use of certain hazardous chemicals for listed products. Going forward, various certification mechanisms might be available. It is possible for companies to issue a self-declaration or ask independent third party to carry out the certification.

The existing China RoHS rules were issued in July 2010. The new rules, when invoked, will replace that legislation.

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