Category: European Union

EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS): An Essential Guide

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

The RoHS Directive restricts chemicals and heavy metals in electronic components, solder, and materials (e.g. casing). It applies to electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) imported or manufactured in the European Union.

The requirements of the RoHS directive go beyond substance restrictions. More specifically, the directive also covers CE marking and other labelling requirements, documentation, and lab testing.
Continue reading EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS): An Essential Guide

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive: An Essential Guide

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 1 Comment

The Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive covers electric and electronic equipment that may cause electromagnetic interference with other devices, or that might be disturbed by the electromagnetic field created by other devices.

Some types of electronic devices, such as quartz watches, do not fall under the scope of the directive because they are considered “inherently benign”, in the sense that they do not interfere and are not affected by other devices.

In this guide, we cover what EU importers and manufacturers must know about the directive, including harmonised standards, labelling, documentation, and lab testing requirements.
Continue reading Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive: An Essential Guide

Low Voltage Directive (LVD): An Essential Guide

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 1 Comment

The Low Voltage Directive (LVD) aims to ensure the safety of electrical and electronic products with an input or output voltage within a certain range. Generally speaking, the Low Voltage Directive applies to devices and their power supply units that can be plugged into the power socket. Hence, it covers both consumer electronics and AC adapters.

In this guide, we explain what importers and manufacturers must know concerning the directive’s safety standards, labelling, documentation, and other requirements.
Continue reading Low Voltage Directive (LVD): An Essential Guide

Heavy Metals Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 4 Comments

Products ranging from jewellery and watch cases to electronic components and toy paints may contain heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. The European Union strictly regulates – and in some cases, prohibits – the usage of these substances, due to their toxicity.

In this article, we summarise several EU regulations and directives covering heavy metals, including REACH, the RoHS Directive, and the Toy Safety Directive.
Continue reading Heavy Metals Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

Food Contact Materials Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 19 Comments

Food contact materials usually include products and packaging made to be in contact with food or beverage. This includes a wide range of consumer goods, such as baby bottles, lunch boxes, cookware, and cutlery. Naturally, there are regulations that restrict the usage of certain chemicals and heavy metals in such products.

In this guide you’ll find summaries of EU food contact material regulations, including product scope, labelling requirements, documentation requirements, testing, and more.

Continue reading Food Contact Materials Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

Heavy Metals Lab Testing: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 2 Comments

PCB Factory

Lead, cadmium, mercury and other heavy metals are either restricted or banned for use in consumer products in most developed countries. This includes the EU, US, UK and many others.

Verifying that a product or material does not contain restricted heavy metals often requires third-party lab testing.

In this guide, we explain what all brands must know about heavy metals testing costs, materials, substance limitations, risks, and how to handle failed test results. Continue reading Heavy Metals Lab Testing: A Complete Guide

Baby Feeding Bottle Standards and Regulations in the EU: An Overview

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

Planning to import or manufacture baby feeding bottles in the European Union? Childcare products, including baby feeding bottles, are strictly regulated. More specifically, baby bottles must both meet strict mechanical safety standards, and food contact material regulations.

In this guide, we cover relevant safety standards, substance restrictions, labelling, documentation, and testing requirements.

In addition, this guide also covers compliance risks that baby feeding bottle importers and manufacturers must be aware of.

Continue reading Baby Feeding Bottle Standards and Regulations in the EU: An Overview

List of Extended Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO) in the EU

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy that makes manufacturers and importers responsible for what happens to the packaging of their products after it has reached its post-consumer stage. This means that companies must pay a fee to a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), which in turn collects, disposes, and recycles their packaging.

In this guide, we introduce Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) in different EU countries, that can help your company comply with national EPR requirements. Every EU member state has a list of recognised Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO). In this article, we only list organisations that are PRO Europe members, which covers most EU countries. Continue reading List of Extended Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO) in the EU

Recreational Craft Directive: Guide for EU Importers and Manufacturers

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

Recreational Craft Directive

Planning to import or manufacture recreational crafts in the European Union? This article covers requirements regarding the Recreational Craft Directive, such as the product scope, conformity assessment procedure and modules, documentation, labelling, and lab testing.

Continue reading Recreational Craft Directive: Guide for EU Importers and Manufacturers

Gas Appliances Regulation: Guide for EU Importers and Manufacturers

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

Gas Appliances Regulation

Planning to import or manufacture gas appliances and fittings in the European Union? This article provides information about the Gas Appliances Regulation requirements, including CE marking, documentation, harmonised standards, and testing requirements.

Continue reading Gas Appliances Regulation: Guide for EU Importers and Manufacturers