China is expected to issue six more regulations in the second
half of 2007 to tighten pollution controls on electronic products,
according to the Ministry of Information Industry (MII).
The regulations will be issued in response to the European
Union's Energy Using Products (EUP) Directive that will officially
take effect in August.
The EUP Directive includes eco-friendly standards on the design,
production, transportation, application, and recycling of
electronic products.
Without consideration of the new foreign standards, China's
exports of electronics could be adversely affected, Huang
Jianzhong, an MII official, said on Wednesday
The production of electronic devices has caused pollution from
toxic substances including lead, mercury, and chromium, Huang
said.
The country has issued three regulations governing the maximum
allowable level of the hazardous substances in electronic
products.
Huang noted China will issue a new regulation in August
requiring firms to guarantee toxic substances will not leak from
the devices. The nation will introduce another five standards on
non-lead soldering by the end of the year.
The official also said the regulations will help upgrade
facilities in the electronic industry.
(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2007)