China: New energy-saving requirements for household products

 

China has published a new National Standard of the P.R.C., Household and similar electrical appliances – Energy saving and environment protection specification.

The standard specifies the general principles, life cycle requirements, and product requirements for energy saving and environmental protection of household and similar electrical appliances.

It applies to the energy saving and environmental protection of household and similar electrical appliances and the production, installation and recycling stages thereof.

In accordance with the provisions:

4.1 During the design and development stage, electrical appliances should consider the possible impacts of each stage of the product life cycle on the environment, resources and energy, and adopt design solutions that are conducive to the comprehensive utilization and harm reduction of resources to reduce carbon emissions per unit product, reduce ecological environment damage and resource ,Energy consumption.

4.2 In the production process of electrical appliances, do not use technologies, processes, equipment and materials that have been eliminated or banned from use by relevant national departments.

4.3 On the premise of fully protecting the product, complying with safety, health and environmental requirements, and meeting consumer needs, simplify the packaging structure of electrical appliances, reduce the generation of packaging waste, and give priority to packaging materials that are recyclable, recyclable, and easily degradable.

4.4 When the manufacturer provides repair or maintenance, the materials and components used shall be consistent with the energy saving and environmental protection requirements of the original design.

5.1 Production stage

5.1.1 The disposal of solid waste generated during the production of electrical appliances should comply with the requirements of GB18599. Solid waste that cannot be processed by oneself should be transferred to processing enterprises with corresponding capabilities and qualifications for processing.

5.1.2 Hydrochlorofluorocarbons, 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methyl chloroform TCA), trifluorotrichloroethane (CFC-113), and carbon tetrachloride should not be used in the production process of electrical appliances (CTC) as a cleaning agent. The content of VOC and specific volatile organic compounds in cleaning agents should comply with the limit requirements of GB38508.

5.1.3 Five types of persistent organic pollutants, hexachlorobutadiene, polychlorinated naphthalene, pentachlorophenol and its salts and esters, decabromodiphenyl ether and short-chain chlorinated paraffins, should not be used in the production process of electrical appliances. .

5.1.4 If refrigerants (except hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants) need to be charged during the production of electrical appliances, a collection device should be equipped in the production area according to the type of refrigerant and the refrigerant should be recovered.

The full text of the draft can be found HERE.

To find out more about regulatory requirements for products in China, please contact the Product Compliance Institute directly.