EU Compliance for Electronics from China
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Selling electronics into the EU means clearing three stacked regimes before customs cares about anything else: CE marking (covering the RED, LVD, and EMC Directives as applicable), RoHS 2 restricted-substance limits, and REACH SVHC obligations with SCIP database registration. Chinese factories often hand over a CE "certificate" that is really a self-issued declaration with no test report behind it. We check that the technical file, harmonized-standard test reports, and supplier substance declarations actually exist and match the product you're shipping.
CE is self-declared for most electronics, so the legal weight sits in your technical file — EMC/radio reports, RoHS test data, and Article 33 SVHC traceability. The usual pitfall is treating a factory's CE logo as proof; without the documentation, an EU market-surveillance authority can pull the product.
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FAQ
What does CE marking actually require for electronics?
Depending on the product, you must meet the EMC Directive, the Low Voltage Directive, and for wireless the Radio Equipment Directive, then compile a technical file with test reports and issue a Declaration of Conformity. For most electronics it is self-declaration, not a third-party certificate.
Is RoHS the same as REACH?
No. RoHS 2 restricts 10 named substances (lead, cadmium, certain phthalates, etc.) in the product itself; REACH covers SVHCs across all materials with Article 33 communication and SCIP registration above 0.1% by weight. EU electronics typically need both.
How do I get valid RoHS/REACH documentation from a Chinese supplier?
Ask for material-level test reports from an accredited lab (not a generic logo), plus signed supplier declarations naming the specific parts and substances. We verify the reports cover the actual BOM and aren't recycled from a different product.
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