--- title: "Is China RoHS the same as EU RoHS?" canonical_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/faq/is-china-rohs-the-same-as-eu-rohs" source_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/faq/is-china-rohs-the-same-as-eu-rohs" author: "Sorena AI" description: "No. China RoHS and EU RoHS overlap in substance control but use different scope rules, exclusions, actors, marking and disclosure outputs, conformity routes, and transition dates." published_at: "2026-07-05" updated_at: "2026-07-24" keywords: - "China RoHS" - "Hazardous substances" - "Electrical and electronic products" - "Product compliance" --- **[SORENA](https://www.sorena.io/)** - AI-Powered GRC Platform [Home](https://www.sorena.io/) | [Solutions](https://www.sorena.io/solutions) | [Artifacts](https://www.sorena.io/artifacts) | [About Us](https://www.sorena.io/about-us) | [Contact](https://www.sorena.io/contact) | [Portal](https://app.sorena.io) --- # Is China RoHS the same as EU RoHS? No. China RoHS and EU RoHS overlap in substance control but use different scope rules, exclusions, actors, marking and disclosure outputs, conformity routes, and transition dates. *Question* *China* ## Is China RoHS the same as EU RoHS? Direct answer No. Assess each market separately. China RoHS and EU RoHS differ in scope, exclusions, actor duties, restricted-substance implementation, marking and disclosure, conformity assessment, and evidence. Technical supplier data may be reused when it fits both analyses, but a conclusion, mark, declaration, or exception from one regime does not establish compliance with the other. No. China RoHS and EU RoHS are separate legal regimes. Run a market-specific scope, substance, exception, marking, conformity, and evidence review for each product, including the EU homogeneous material represented by each substance result. ## Definitions ### Homogeneous material EU RoHS defines a homogeneous material as one material of uniform composition throughout, or a combination of materials that cannot be separated into different materials by mechanical actions such as unscrewing, cutting, crushing, grinding, or abrasion. Examples can include a metal alloy, polymer, glass, ceramic, or coating when it meets that test. **Why it matters here:** EU maximum concentration values apply by weight in each homogeneous material rather than as an average across the finished product. A shared supplier result is useful only when the tested or declared material, substance, model, and revision match the EU decision and the applicable China evidence unit. Sources: - [Directive 2011/65/EU, consolidated text at 1 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0065-20260701&ref=sorena.io) ### Environmental protection use period The China RoHS Measures define this as the period during which hazardous substances in an electrical or electronic product will not leak or suddenly change, seriously pollute the environment, or seriously harm a user's person or property when the product is used normally according to its instructions. The producer or importer determines and marks the period under the applicable China standard. **Why it matters here:** This China-specific information is not the EU RoHS CE marking, EU declaration of conformity, product lifetime, warranty, or permission to discard the product. Sources: - [Measures for Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products](https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2022-08/23/content_5722699.htm?ref=sorena.io) ## Short answer China RoHS applies to covered electrical and electronic products produced, sold, or imported in China. It requires China-specific hazardous-substance information and environmental protection use period marking, and adds substance-limit and conformity-assessment duties for products in the compliance-management catalogue. EU RoHS applies to electrical and electronic equipment in the Annex I categories, subject to Article 2 exclusions. It restricts Annex II substances at homogeneous-material level, subject to applicable exemptions, and requires technical documentation, an EU declaration of conformity, and CE marking before covered equipment is placed on the EU market. Sources for this answer: - [Measures for Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products](https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2022-08/23/content_5722699.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 2, 3, and 9 to 18 establish the China scope, roles, marking and disclosure, catalogue, and conformity-assessment structure. - [Directive 2011/65/EU on restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Articles 2 to 4 and 7 to 16 establish EU scope and exclusions, homogeneous-material limits, exemptions, economic-operator duties, technical documentation, EU declaration of conformity, and CE marking. - [Directive 2011/65/EU, consolidated text at 1 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0065-20260701&ref=sorena.io) - Current official consolidation used to verify the EU scope, homogeneous-material rule, operator duties, and Annex III and IV exemption text and dates. ## Key differences to document Both regimes cover electrical and electronic products and currently address lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP in relevant standards or legislation. That overlap does not make the legal tests interchangeable. - Scope: China uses the 2016 Measures' function, voltage, supporting-product, and China-activity test; the EU uses the Directive's EEE definition, Annex I categories, and Article 2 exclusions. - Limits: EU Annex II sets maximum concentrations by weight in homogeneous materials and provides application-specific exemptions in Annexes III and IV. China applies its own standards, catalogue timing, and exceptions list. - Marking: China requires hazardous-substance information and environmental protection use period marking. EU RoHS uses CE marking and an EU declaration of conformity; it does not use China's environmental protection use period mark. - Conformity: EU manufacturers prepare technical documentation and the EU declaration under Article 7. China's catalogue products use the national voluntary certification or supplier declaration routes and public-platform reporting. - Actors: China assigns duties to designers, producers, importers, and sellers. EU duties attach to manufacturers, authorised representatives, importers, and distributors as defined in the Directive. - Exceptions: evaluate the exact China catalogue exceptions list and the current EU Annex III or IV exemption separately, including scope and expiry. Sources for this answer: - [Measures for Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products](https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2022-08/23/content_5722699.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Binding China source for the product definition, actors, marking and disclosure, catalogue, and conformity-assessment structure. - [Directive 2011/65/EU on restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Binding EU source for categories and exclusions, homogeneous-material limits, Annex III and IV exemptions, economic operators, technical documentation, EU declaration of conformity, CE marking, and ten-year records. - [MIIT Announcement No. 11 of 2026: Compliance Management Catalogue and Exceptions List](https://wap.miit.gov.cn/jgsj/jns/wjfb/art/2026/art_c8f5ccd5bd7e465c99ade198358d5ccc.html?ref=sorena.io) - Current China catalogue and exceptions announcement, including the ten named substances and product-specific implementation timing. - [Directive 2011/65/EU, consolidated text at 1 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0065-20260701&ref=sorena.io) - Current official EU text for the ten Annex II limits, economic-operator duties, and application-specific exemptions and expiry dates. ## What evidence can be reused Supplier declarations, material composition data, test reports, bill-of-material mappings, and change controls may support both files if they cover the correct substances, materials, models, revisions, methods, and dates. Record the reason each item is suitable for each regime. Do not reuse the legal conclusion. Keep an independent China scope and actor decision, China marking and disclosure approval, catalogue and conformity conclusion, EU scope and exclusion decision, homogeneous-material and exemption review, EU technical documentation, declaration, and CE-marking approval. Sources for this answer: - [Measures for Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products](https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2022-08/23/content_5722699.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Supports the independent China product, actor, marking, disclosure, catalogue, and conformity decisions. - [Directive 2011/65/EU on restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Article 7 requires technical documentation, conformity assessment, an EU declaration of conformity, CE marking, production controls, and retention for ten years. - [Directive 2011/65/EU, consolidated text at 1 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0065-20260701&ref=sorena.io) - Current official consolidation for checking whether shared evidence still matches the applicable EU limit and exemption. ## China's current transition matters GB 26572-2025 takes effect on 1 August 2027. It will make the ten-substance limits, marking, disclosure, testing, and technical-support-document requirements part of one mandatory national standard. Until then, follow the official transition schedule for the applicable China product and conformity-assessment route. The 2026 China catalogue contains 33 product groups. Its reorganised existing groups continued when the catalogue was published on 28 May 2026, while newly added groups and newly added scope generally enter the limit and conformity-assessment layer on 1 August 2027. Examples of newly added groups include portable power banks, smart watches and bands, headphones, robot vacuum cleaners, servers, electronic blood-pressure monitors, and hearing aids. The substance lists will align more closely, but the regimes will still differ in scope, exceptions, markings, declarations, responsible actors, and enforcement. Alignment of technical limits does not create mutual recognition. Sources for this answer: - [National Standard GB 26572-2025](https://openstd.samr.gov.cn/bzgk/std/newGbInfo?hcno=279928A31DAA3737BD0205BD3A0A4857&ref=sorena.io) - Official record showing publication on 1 August 2025 and implementation on 1 August 2027. - [SAMR and MIIT Announcement No. 44 of 2025 on China RoHS conformity-assessment standards](https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/rzjgs/art/2025/art_80f5307f94d84f30adb8b2611b80ccaf.html?ref=sorena.io) - Official transition schedule for China conformity-assessment standards through 1 August 2027. - [MIIT explanation of the 2026 compliance-management catalogue and exceptions list](https://www.miit.gov.cn/zwgk/zcjd/art/2026/art_5e3da83febf5461ca1b063165c660dea.html?ref=sorena.io) - Explains the 33 product groups, representative newly added products, and different implementation timing for continuing and newly added catalogue scope. ## Primary sources - [Measures for Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products](https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2022-08/23/content_5722699.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Binding China source for product scope, actor duties, hazardous-substance information, environmental protection use period marking, catalogue management, and conformity assessment. - [Directive 2011/65/EU on restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0065-20250101&ref=sorena.io) - Consolidated EU RoHS text used for EU scope, exclusions, homogeneous-material limits, exemptions, actor duties, technical documentation, EU declaration of conformity, and CE marking. - [MIIT Announcement No. 11 of 2026: Compliance Management Catalogue and Exceptions List](https://wap.miit.gov.cn/jgsj/jns/wjfb/art/2026/art_c8f5ccd5bd7e465c99ade198358d5ccc.html?ref=sorena.io) - Current China catalogue, ten-substance list, exceptions list, and product-specific implementation framework. - [National Standard GB 26572-2025](https://openstd.samr.gov.cn/bzgk/std/newGbInfo?hcno=279928A31DAA3737BD0205BD3A0A4857&ref=sorena.io) - Official implementation date for China's forthcoming mandatory ten-substance standard. - [Directive 2011/65/EU, consolidated text at 1 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011L0065-20260701&ref=sorena.io) - Current official EU RoHS consolidation used for live scope, substance, exemption, actor, and documentation decisions. - [MIIT explanation of the 2026 compliance-management catalogue and exceptions list](https://www.miit.gov.cn/zwgk/zcjd/art/2026/art_5e3da83febf5461ca1b063165c660dea.html?ref=sorena.io) - Official explanation of the current China catalogue's 33 product groups and transition timing. ## Topic Guides - [China RoHS compliance checklist](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/checklist.md): Release checklist for China RoHS scope, actor duties, marking, disclosure, the 2026 catalogue, exceptions, conformity assessment, and transition dates. - [China RoHS deadlines and compliance calendar](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/deadlines-and-compliance-calendar.md): China RoHS legal dates, product-release triggers, catalogue timing, and evidence to review before production, import, or sale in China. - [China RoHS FAQ](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/faq.md): Practical China RoHS answers on product scope, actor duties, marking and disclosure, supplier evidence, the 2026 catalogue, the 2027 standard transition, EU RoHS, and e-waste. - [China RoHS marking and disclosure evidence](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/marking-and-disclosure-evidence.md): How to choose and document China RoHS product marks, substance information, environmental protection use period, and catalogue evidence. - [China RoHS penalties and enforcement exposure](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/penalties-and-fines.md): China RoHS Article 19 violations, responsible actors, enforcement boundaries, and why the Measures do not provide one universal fine amount. - [China RoHS requirements](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/requirements.md): China RoHS duties by actor, including product controls, packaging, marking, disclosure, the 2026 catalogue, exceptions, and conformity-assessment transitions. - [China RoHS supplier declaration template](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/china-rohs-supplier-declaration-template.md): A voluntary China RoHS supplier declaration template with fields for part coverage, substances, evidence, exceptions, and change control. - [China RoHS supplier material declaration checklist](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/supplier-material-declaration-checklist.md): A China RoHS checklist for supplier declarations, BOM mapping, substance evidence, catalogue status, and change control. - [China RoHS vs China e-waste rules](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/china-rohs-vs-china-e-waste.md): Compare China RoHS product duties with China's separate recovery, treatment, processor-licensing, and end-of-life evidence requirements. - [China RoHS vs EU RoHS](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/china-rohs-vs-eu-rohs.md): Compare China RoHS and EU RoHS scope, substance limits, exemptions, marking, conformity routes, actors, and evidence without treating one decision as proof of the other. - [Covered electrical and electronic products under China RoHS](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/covered-electrical-electronic-products.md): Apply the China RoHS function, rated-voltage, China-activity, supporting-product, and electricity-system exclusion tests before checking the 2026 catalogue. - [Does China RoHS cover my electrical or electronic product?](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/faq/does-china-rohs-cover-my-electrical-electronic-product.md): Start with the China RoHS legal definition and product facts. Keep a covered-product note before collecting supplier material declarations or preparing marking/disclosure evidence. - [How is China RoHS different from China e-waste rules?](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/faq/how-is-china-rohs-different-from-china-e-waste-rules.md): China RoHS addresses hazardous substances, marking and disclosure before or during market placement; China e-waste rules address recovery and disposal at end of life. - [What is China RoHS marking and disclosure evidence?](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/faq/what-is-china-rohs-marking-and-disclosure-evidence.md): Keep the approved China RoHS mark or instructions, hazardous-substance disclosure, environmental protection use period rationale, technical support, and release approval for the exact model. - [What supplier evidence should we keep for China RoHS?](/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/faq/what-supplier-evidence-should-we-keep-for-china-rohs.md): Keep supplier declarations and test evidence traceable to the exact part, material, site, revision, substance conclusion, and finished China model. Supplier data supports, but does not replace, the product-level China RoHS decision. *Operationalize the requirement* *Placement: Before primary sources* ## Prepare the China RoHS release evidence file Sorena AI helps turn the answer to "Is China RoHS the same as EU RoHS?" into assigned controls and retained evidence. - [Map official sources to evidence](/solutions/research-copilot.md): Research Copilot connects the official citation, decision, owner, retained evidence, and change history. - [Review the China route](/contact.md): Check the China RoHS scope decision and unresolved launch questions with Sorena. --- [Privacy Policy](https://www.sorena.io/privacy.md) | [Terms of Use](https://www.sorena.io/terms-of-use.md) | [DMCA](https://www.sorena.io/dmca.md) | [About Us](https://www.sorena.io/about-us.md) (c) 2026 Sorena AB (559573-7338). All rights reserved. Source: https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/apac/china-rohs-regulation/faq/is-china-rohs-the-same-as-eu-rohs.md