When communicating with customers, this question is often asked:
"Do your products have any environmental certification?"
This question may seem simple, but if you delve deeper, you will find that many customers actually cannot distinguish the differences between various certifications such as ROHS, REACH, FDA, and LFGB, and they don't know which certification their products should undergo.
Today, let's clarify these certifications all at once.
First, understand this: Certifications fall into two main categories.
Although these certifications are all related to "environmental protection", they target different directions and are divided into two categories:
The first category: Hazardous Substance Limitation Certification
Representatives: ROHS, REACH
It concerns: Whether the products contain harmful chemical substances
The substances it restricts:
Lead (Pb)
Mercury (Hg)
Cadmium (Cd)
Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+)
Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)
Phthalate esters (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP)
What products require: Electronic and electrical products exported to the EU, as well as their accompanying components. For example, silicone buttons and silicone sealing rings if used in electronic products, customers may request a ROHS report.
One sentence understanding: ROHS regulates "there should be no such harmful substances in electronic and electrical products".
II. REACH: "Comprehensive Control" at the Chemicals Level
Full name: Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals)
Origin: EU
What is regulated: The control of all chemicals entering the EU market
Core content:
List of substances of very high concern (SVHC), currently there are over 200 substances
If the SVHC content in the product exceeds 0.1%, it is necessary to inform customers and consumers
Difference from ROHS:
ROHS targets electronic and electrical products, while REACH covers a wider range, almost all products are involved
ROHS is a "restriction list", REACH is a complete system of registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction
It can be simply understood as: ROHS regulates electronic products, REACH regulates all chemicals
What products require: Almost all products exported to the EU may be required to provide a REACH report, silicone products are no exception.
One sentence understanding: REACH regulates "there should be no those chemical substances that the EU is watching out for in the product".
III. FDA: "Passport" for Food Contact Materials in the US
Full name: Food and Drug Administration (US Food and Drug Administration)
Origin: USA
What is regulated: The safety of food contact materials
Core content:
21 CFR 177.2600: Standards for rubber food contact materials
The material must not release harmful substances into food when in contact with food
Test items include: extract test, heavy metal content, etc.
What products require: Almost all products exported to the US and silicone products in contact with food. For example, silicone kitchenware, silicone baby bottles, silicone tableware, silicone baking molds, etc.
One sentence understanding: FDA regulates "whether this product can safely come into contact with food".
IV. LFGB: "More Strict Standards" for Food Contact Materials in Germany
Full name: Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch (German Food and Feed Code)
Origin: Germany
What is regulated: The safety of food contact materials
Difference from FDA:
LFGB is stricter than FDA, with more test items
LFGB adds sensory tests (smelling and tasting)
LFGB has stricter requirements for heavy metal migration amounts
In the EU market, LFGB has a very high recognition rate
What products require: Silicone products exported to Germany or the EU and in contact with food. Many European customers will specify LFGB certification.
One sentence understanding: LFGB regulates "the taste and smell of this product when in contact with food cannot affect the food".
V. Hongxiangda's Attitude
At Hongxiangda, our stance on certification is clear: We will conduct all the necessary certifications without missing a single one, and we will provide the reports requested by the customers at any time.
Our food-grade silicone raw materials comply with standards such as FDA and LFGB.
Our products can be sent to third-party institutions for ROHS and REACH testing according to customer requirements.
There are test reports for each batch of raw materials upon their entry into the factory, and the production records are traceable.
If you are looking for a supplier of silicone products or are unsure about the certification issues, please come to Hongxiangda to have a chat. We will tell you what certifications to conduct based on where your products are sold.