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The new SGS RoHS Programme and certification mark

A SGS product story

Edited by the Processingtalk editorial team Jun 14, 2006

The SGS RoHS Programme helps manufacturers, retailers and suppliers mitigate the risk of non-compliance to global and national restricted substances regulations, and allows use of the RoHS-Mark

Due to RoHS certification, SGS has created a new programme specifically aimed at helping producers meet the strict requirements of RoHS and where necessary, take corrective actions to meet the maximum concentration of substances allowed.

The new SGS RoHS Programme employs individuals with genuine legislative and component knowledge who can apply reason, interpretation and skill to resolve the most challenging RoHS and WEEE related issues.

The goal is to help companies minimise the financial and administrative burden that this complex legislation requires.

The RoHS Programme is a single product certification which can be extended to certification of a product series, as long as the range of products are produced using the same raw materials, the management system has a similar function and the "basic design" has not changed significantly.

The RoHS certificate is valid for 5 years.

Who should apply for RoHS certification? The applicant must be either be the product manufacturer who owns the brand under which the product is distributed or the person who authorises another original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to produce the product on their behalf.

At a first step SGS will certify only homogenous material and electrical components.

Once certified, a commitment that the product sold on the market is identical with the certified product and is produced by same production process and same constituents is required.

You can easily download the necessary application forms from a special webpage, created by SGS in relation to the whole theme of RoHS.

You can find on the website more information about RoHS and WEEE, news, publications and contact details, but also more information on the new certification mark.

You can download application forms for RoHS certification, a factory assessment application form and letter of authorisation for application of factory inspection.

You can fill in the application form and send it to your local contact for SGS RoHS services.

What is the process required for RoHS certification? The first step is for you to complete a number of technical documents.

This helps SGS with an initial assessment of your needs.

If you have already SGS test reports for all homogenous components of your product, no additional tests are necessary.

If not, SGS will test the components in one of their 24 labs around the world.

Then SGS will assign a qualified specialist to perform a factory assessment of your production plant as well as sampling materials and finished products at the end of the production line.

The factory assessment will be performed according to the SGS Factory Assessment Protocol and is signed off by both the SGS Inspector and the factory manager.

Samples taken are tested by one of the SGS accredited test laboratories.

If defects are detected during factory assessment, the applicant must correct the defects as soon as possible.

The time permitted for this will be controlled by SGS.

Once the factory assessment is completed, a copy of the report (Corrective Action Request - CAR) is provided.

The factory assessment and sample testing results are independently reviewed before a certification decision is taken.

Only upon successful comparison of both, is SGS able to issue the ROHS-certificate and ROHS-Mark for those certified products.

As holder of the certificate, companies are allowed to use the RoHS mark on their products, within the user manual, on all packaging and on any marketing for this product.

The benefits of SGS RoHS Programme.

The SGS RoHS Programme helps manufacturers, retailers and suppliers mitigate the risk of non-compliance to global and national restricted substances regulations.

With a proven track record in product safety certification compiled over more than 80 years, SGS provides a respected third-party source to help clients monitor their supply chains and self-declare compliance with confidence.