China RoHS 2026 – 33 Product Categories Now in Scope

On May 28, 2026, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), together with seven other government authorities, issued Announcement No. 11 of 2026, introducing the updated Conformity Management Catalog for the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products (2026 Edition) and the Exemption List for Restricted Substance Applications in the Conformity Management Catalog (2026 Edition).

The new measures, developed under China's Ecological and Environmental Code and China RoHS regulations, are designed to further reduce the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products sold in China. For manufacturers, importers, and suppliers, the "Confirmity Management Catalog" and "Exemption List" provide important guidance on compliance requirements and market access, while supporting China's broader environmental and sustainability goals.

Products Covered

The Conformity Management Catalog for the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products (2026 Edition) covers a total of 33 types of electrical and electronic products, including air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, industrial laundry machinery, and air purifiers. They are common daily-use consumer products with a high frequency of use.

It is noteworthy that when products listed in this Catalog are used as components of products outside the Catalog, they are not subject to the scope of this Catalog. However, when these products are sold separately on the market without a specified end-use, they fall within the scope of this Catalog.

Restricted Substances and Compliance Requirements

For products included in the Conformity Management Catalog, the content of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) must, within the timeline specified in the Catalog, comply with the relevant standards on the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products. These products are also subject to the conformity assessment system for the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products.

The Exemption List clearly stipulates the concentration limits and validity periods for the application of restricted substances such as mercury, lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and phthalates in specific uses. Scenarios listed in the Exemption List may be implemented in accordance with the corresponding requirements set out in the List.

Effective Date and Repeal of Previous Version

The Conformity Management Catalog and the Exemption List took effect on the date of publication of this Announcement (May 28, 2026). The Conformity Management Catalog for the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products (First Batch) and the Exemption List for Restricted Substance Applications in the Conformity Management Catalog issued under MIIT Announcement No. 15 of 2018 are simultaneously repealed.

Announcement No. 11 of 2026 was jointly issued by the MIIT, together with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration (NDCPA).

Comparison with EU RoHS

The EU RoHS Directive was first adopted on January 27, 2003, as the original version (2002/95/EC). A new version, Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2.0), was published on July 1, 2011, and entered into force on July 21, 2011, replacing the previous version.

Compared with the China RoHS Catalogue, the EU RoHS Directive has a much broader scope of application, covering almost all electronic and electrical products, including medical devices, communication equipment, toys, security, and information products. It not only applies to finished products but also to components, raw materials, and packaging used in the production of finished products, affecting the entire supply chain.

• Which products are subject to RoHS requirements?

• Core requirements of the EU RoHS Directive

According to Article 4(1) of the RoHS 2.0 Directive, Member States shall ensure that electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market, including cables and spare parts for its repair, reuse, updating of functions, or upgrading of capacity, does not contain the substances listed in Annex II. The list of restricted substances under RoHS 2.0 is as follows:

• EU RoHS Exemptions

In addition to the products that are excluded from the scope of the RoHS Directive, some products falling within the scope may still be unable to avoid the use of hazardous substances due to technical or economic reasons. For such cases, the RoHS Directive provides exemption clauses. Products meeting the exemption conditions may be placed on the EU market even if the content of restricted substances in their materials exceeds the limits. It should be noted that each exemption has a specific validity period.

CIRS Reminder

The implementation of the new Catalog means that the management of the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products will be further strengthened. Relevant enterprises should pay timely attention to regulatory updates, plan compliance solutions in advance, and effectively address the systemic impacts that may arise in production, supply chains, and markets.

CIRS Testing has obtained all CMA and CNAS qualifications for the supporting standard GB/T 39560 Determination of Certain Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products series, which are the testing methods for hazardous substance content specified in the new China RoHS standards. We can provide enterprises with comprehensive testing and compliance services for raw materials and finished products. 

Our Services

• China RoHS Compliance
• EU RoHS Compliance
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If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.

Further information

MIIT

This article was updated on June 9, 2026, to add information on EU RoHS and update the Headline.