China have officially approved a new, mandatory RoHS standard that will have a major impact on the electronics industry. For anyone involved in manufacturing, importing, or selling electrical and electronic products in China.
On August 1, 2025, Chinese authorities approved the new national standard GB 26572-2025, titled “Requirements for the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products. This new standard will come into force on August 1, 2027, officially replacing the older, recommended standard, GB/T 26572-2011.
From Recommended to Required
The biggest change here is the letter “T.” The old standard was GB/T, which designated it as recommended. The new GB 26572-2025 is a fully mandatory national standard. This move elevates the China RoHS framework from a guideline to a legal necessity, harmonizing it more closely with the European Union’s influential RoHS Directive.
What’s New in GB 26572-2025?
This new standard is more than just a rehash of the old one. It integrates and upgrades previous rules on concentration limits and labeling into a single, binding document. Here are the key upgrades:
- More Restricted Substances: The list of controlled hazardous substances is expanding from six to ten, adding four phthalates: DBP, BBP, DEHP, and DIBP. This brings the list in line with the EU RoHS directive, a welcome change for global manufacturers aiming for a unified compliance strategy.
- Mandatory Labeling: What was once a suggested practice under SJ/T 11364-2024 is now a mandatory requirement. The new standard also introduces modern, digital labeling options like QR codes to streamline how compliance information is presented.
- Unified Testing Methods: To ensure consistency and reliability, the new standard officially designates the GB/T 39560 series (which aligns with the international IEC 62321 series) as the unified testing method.
The transition to GB 26572-2025 marks a new chapter for environmental compliance in China. This is a move towards greener manufacturing and greater alignment with global standards.
