Imagine your products traveling across oceans, only to be detained by customs due to environmental compliance issues—resulting in significant losses. For cross-border e-commerce sellers, ROHS and CE certifications serve as both a "passport" and a "safety lock" for smooth exports.
ROHS Certification: Ensuring Environmental Compliance
The ROHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive restricts the use of specific hazardous materials in electrical and electronic equipment. Initially, ROHS 1.0 limited six harmful substances, including lead, mercury, and cadmium. The updated ROHS 2.0 expanded this list by adding four phthalates—DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP—bringing the total to ten restricted substances.
Key thresholds under ROHS include:
- Lead, mercury, and other substances must not exceed 0.1% concentration.
- Cadmium is capped at 0.01%.
Rubber components, often overlooked, must also undergo rigorous testing by accredited laboratories to ensure compliance.
CE Certification: Guaranteeing Safety and Performance
The CE mark signifies that a product meets EU standards for safety, health, and environmental protection. One critical aspect of CE testing is "conducted emissions"—electromagnetic noise transmitted through power or signal cables within the 150kHz to 30MHz frequency range.
This testing is essential because such emissions can propagate through power grids, disrupting nearby electronic devices. CE certification ensures products neither interfere with other equipment nor compromise user safety.
Why These Certifications Matter
ROHS and CE certifications are non-negotiable for businesses targeting the European market. While ROHS verifies environmental compliance, CE confirms adherence to technical and safety standards. Together, they mitigate regulatory risks and enhance market credibility.