Taiwan includes RoHS in EEE standard inspection

Taiwan’s RoHS has MCV’s that are identical to those in the European Union’s (EU) RoHS, although the EU RoHS also includes phthalates.

Taiwan RoHS includes:

• Lead (Pb)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+)
• Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)
• Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)

The Taiwanese RoHS standard stipulates the use of methods CNS 15050 or IEC 62321 when checking for hazardous substances in EEE. The standard also demands appropriate labeling on the product, packaging, stickers, and/or the instruction manuals for the product.

RoHS is an addition to the product inspections standards already set by the BSMI for EEE imported into Taiwan. These comprise safety regulations, electromagnetic compatibility and related tests, and must be completed before the BSMI Commodity Inspection (CI) Mark is authorised. All products entering Taiwan must undergo BSMI certification, sanctioned by a product inspection and registration supervision. Certification lasts for a period of three years.

The BSMI issued a notice to include Taiwan RoHS marking requirement in the inspection standard for various types of EEE in December 2015. When a product is covered by the scope of the regulations, ‘RoHS’ must be included on the CI MARK. Following its introduction, the BSMI has gradually expanded the scope of the regulations to include several other product types.

Taiwan’s RoHS requirements will be implemented in a number of stages:

• 1st July 2017 – certain IT and audio/visual products, including: network media players (wired network media players) and projectors; automatic data processing machines; printing and copying machines; televisions; monitors and monitors used in automatic data processing.
• 1st January 2018 – a range of EEE, including: self-ballasted fluorescent lamps; plugs and socket-outlets for fixed wiring; IT and audio-video products, including radio keyboard; motor class goods, e.g. single-phase AC motors; home appliances, e.g. electric blankets; water dispensers; power supplies, battery chargers for computer, communication and consumer electronics; AC supplied electronic ballasts for fluorescent lamps; printing and copying machines (new listed goods).
• 1st July 2018 – eight more items, including air conditioners and lighting.

The RoHS requirement is now a requirement of the BSMI certification process for listed products, meaning the level of RoHS restricted substances in a product must be determined.

Products must meet the following requirements:

1. Conformity assessment by either Registration of Product Certification (RPC) Scheme or Type-approved Batch Inspection (TABI) Scheme.
2. Determining the content of hazardous substance according to test method CNS 15050 or IEC 62321.
3. The Commodity Inspection Mark and RoHS label must be affixed to packages:
   • ‘RoHS’ indicates the content of restricted substance(s), other than exemptions stated in CNS 15663, does not exceed the reference percentage value of presence condition.
   • ‘RoHS(XX,XX)’ indicates the content of restricted substance(s) (element XX, element XX, …), other than exemptions stated in CNS 15663, exceeds the reference percentage value of presence condition.
   • The letter ‘R’, of ‘R30001’, indicates RPC scheme used for conformity assessment procedures; a ‘T’ would indicate TABI scheme was used for conformity assessment procedures.

Suppliers of EEE to the Taiwanese market must submit relevant documents, for example testing reports, quality control documents, within 28 days of a request from the BSMI. Documents must be produced by a laboratory accredited under ISO 17025 and all tests must be done in accordance with IEC 62321, CNS 15050 or equivalent standards.