On 3 November China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology opened public consultation on the Catalogue for Compliance Management of the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products (2025 edition, draft) and the corresponding list of exemptions (2025 edition, draft).

Scope of the catalogue adjusted

The original first batch of 12 product types is optimised and consolidated into 10. Printers, copiers and fax machines are merged into a single category, printing, copying, scanning, fax and multifunction devices, in light of technological development. At the same time, 23 electrical and electronic products with relatively mature control conditions are added. After the adjustment the catalogue covers 33 product types, all categories that consumers use frequently and that have wide application.

The new products fall into three groups:

1. Household and similar products, such as microwave ovens, rice cookers, water dispensers, projectors and portable power banks, which are increasingly common in daily life;

2. Emerging products created by the rapid development of information technology, such as smart bands and watches, earphones, smart speakers, robot vacuum cleaners, electronic smart locks, servers and network switching and routing equipment, which are characterised by fast product cycles;

3. Products with a safety and health dimension, such as electric toys and desk lamps for reading and homework for children and young people, electronic blood pressure monitors and glucose meters for older users, and hearing aids for people with hearing impairment.

Exemption list updated

1. In line with provisions of international environmental conventions such as the Minamata Convention on Mercury that have newly taken effect in China, relevant exemptions are revised, for example deleting the exemption for mercury in single-capped fluorescent lamps for general lighting.

2. Referring to international exemption requirements and the newly controlled products, certain exemptions are adjusted accordingly.

Implementation timeline

Products in the original first batch are expected to be subject to the revised catalogue immediately from the date of publication, ensuring a seamless transition. New product categories are given a transition period and are expected to apply from 1 August 2027. The revised exemption list will replace the first list on publication; exemptions retained or newly added take effect from the date of publication, while exemptions to be deleted also have a transition period and cease to apply from 1 August 2027.

Catalogue annex

Exemption list