China Issues First Mandatory National RoHS Standard GB 26572‑2025

China has officially announced the first mandatory national standard for RoHS compliance, GB 26572‑2025, marking a major milestone in hazardous substance control for electrical and electronic products. The new standard, titled Requirements for Restricted Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products, will come into force on 1 August 2027, transitioning the country from a voluntary framework to a fully enforceable legal system.

The standard was approved by the National Standardization Management Committee and developed under the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) with input from industry associations, manufacturers, laboratories, and academia. It applies to all electrical and electronic products manufactured, sold, or imported in China and establishes mandatory limits and compliance requirements for hazardous substances, labelling, and technical documentation.

GB 26572‑2025 expands the list of restricted substances from the previous six to ten, including heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium), persistent organic pollutants (PBBs and PBDEs), and four phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP). Products must not exceed the specified mass fraction limits for these substances, making compliance legally enforceable. Manufacturers, importers, and distributors are required to maintain technical documentation to demonstrate adherence.

The standard also mandates labelling and disclosure of hazardous substance content. While traditional product markings are expected, MIIT encourages the use of digital disclosure methods, such as QR codes, which improve accessibility for consumers and regulators while reducing physical labelling constraints. This reflects China’s intent to modernize compliance practices and support transparency in the supply chain.

MIIT emphasised that GB 26572‑2025 addresses the rapid growth of electronic products, the need to protect health and the environment, and the alignment of China’s regulatory framework with international RoHS systems. This mandatory standard is the culmination of China’s evolution from voluntary controls under GB/T 26572‑2011 to a fully enforceable nationwide compliance system.

For industry, this means reviewing product design, materials sourcing, and manufacturing processes to meet the expanded substance limits, integrating digital labelling tools where applicable, and maintaining compliance documentation for regulatory inspections. Regulators will benefit from enhanced market surveillance capabilities, while consumers will have greater transparency about the chemical content of products they purchase in China.

The official timeline includes the publication of GB 26572‑2025 on 22 August 2025, with mandatory implementation beginning 1 August 2027. Products manufactured, sold, or imported after this date must comply with all requirements. MIIT plans to issue guidance and training to support the transition and implementation of the new standard across relevant sectors.