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Title: Administration on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products (refers to Joint Ministerial Decree No. 39)
1.Issued by/date/date of implementation
People’s Republic of China / February 28 2006 / March 1 2007
2. Type of legislation
National legislation with binding character in the People’s Republic of China
3. General purpose
Administration on the Control of pollution caused by electronic information products is often called China RoHS. The purpose of the law is to reduce environmental pollution resulting from disposal of electronic information products and to promote production and sale of low-pollution information electronics to protect the environment and human health. The law applies for production and sale in China and import of electronics to China, but not for products for export from China. The Chinese law requires markings of all products, showing if there are any hazardous substances in the product and also the Environment Friendly Use Period (EFUP) – the period of time before any of the substances are likely to leak out, causing possible harm to health and the environment.
The law applies to the following substances: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenylethers and “other toxic substances specified by the State”. Also the law includes the packaging for the electronics and batteries, whereas the EU has separate battery and packaging directives.
4. Substitution relevant paragraphs
In article 3 is stated that to control pollution from electronic information products, measures should be taken to reduce or eliminate toxic and harmful substances or elements. These measures include to change the materials used, renovate production mode, and take other technical measures during the design process.
In article 9 it is also stated that measures should be taken during the design process, to adopt a plan for using non-toxic, harmless or low-toxic and low-harm substances that are easily degraded and convenient for recycling.
In article 10 it is stated that while producing or manufacturing electronic information products the manufacturer shall adopt national standards to control toxic or harmful substances and use the materials, technology and processes that are good for environmental protection.
5. Assessment of relevance for substitution
When producing electronic information products, the product designer shall include already in the plan not to use any toxic substances, and the manufacturer should control this by choosing materials that are easily recycled and not harmful for health or environment. This promotes substitution of the hazardous substances with more environmental friendly alternatives.
6. Link to the legal text
7. Further information
7.1 Studies or publications about the legislation or its impact
- Jieqiong Yu, Peter Hills, Richard Welford.2008. Extended producer responsibility and eco-design changes: perspectives from China. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Volume 15, Issue 2, pages 111–124. An abstract can be found here
- Hotta et al 2008. Policy Considerations for Establishing an Environmentally Sound Regional Material Flow in East Asia.The Journal of Environment Development vol. 17 no. 1 26-50. An abstract can be found here
7.2 Other relevant legislation
Chinese laws of relevance:
- PRC Law for promotion of clean production. The English translation can be found here
- PRC law for prevention and control of environmental pollution by solid waste. The English translation can be found here
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Last update: 11.02.2011
