China will begin implementing Restriction of Hazardous
Substances (RoHS) regulations on electrical and electronic
equipment starting March 1.
Hangzhou Daily reported on Sunday that consumers should
buy electrical and electronic equipment with green or orange
labels, giving a clear indication whether they are
environmentally safe.
The RoHS regulations require over 1,800 kinds of electrical and
electronic equipment sold in China, from computers to mobile
phones, to use the environmental labels.
The six hazardous substances targeted at are lead, mercury,
cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and
polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE).
The labels include two arrowheads in a circle if the product is
recyclable. In addition, the letter "E" on the green labels stands
for "environmental," while the orange labels indicate a product
contains hazardous substances, with its accompanying number
signaling its time limit for safety. A list of the hazardous
substances must be included in the introduction to the product.
Consumers may pay more for the environmentally-friendly
products, because of the added costs of making them under the new
regulations.
The RoHS regulations are similar to those introduced in the
European Union last July.
(CRI February 11, 2007)