CE, RoHS, REACH, PPWR Compliance Guide

In the EU green compliance system, CE, RoHS, REACH, and PPWR are often mentioned together, but they are not requirements at the same level: CE is a product conformity marking system, RoHS restricts hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, REACH is a full-lifecycle management regulation for chemicals, and PPWR is a specific regulation for packaging and packaging waste. If export enterprises understand compliance merely as "doing a report," they face a high risk of missed tests, incorrect tests, or mismatched documents.

Core Differences Among the Four

These four items are not "certifications" at the same level, but rather requirements from different dimensions within the EU compliance framework. They are neither "similar certifications" nor a "choose one out of four" relationship; in actual shipments, these four sets of rules often apply simultaneously.

In short: CE governs product market access, RoHS governs electronic and electrical materials, REACH governs chemical substances, and PPWR governs the entire lifecycle of packaging.

What Each One Is

CE: Not a Testing Item, but a Compliance Framework

1.Full Name: Conformité Européenne

2.Nature: A conformity marking system, not a "certificate issued by a certification company."

3.What it governs: Whether the product meets applicable EU harmonization legislation (Machinery, Low Voltage, EMC, Radio Equipment, Toys, PPE, Medical Devices, etc.).

4.Applicability: Machinery, electrical/electronic products, toys, radio equipment, medical devices, etc.

5.Key Point: A product is only affixed with the CE mark if it falls within the scope of a specific CE directive/regulation; ordinary packaging generally does not bear the CE mark.

RoHS: 10 Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment

1.Full Name: Restriction of Hazardous Substances

2.Nature: EU Directive 2011/65/EU

3.What it governs: Evaluated at the homogeneous material level, it currently controls 10 hazardous substances in EEE: Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP.

4.Applicability: Home appliances, IT/AV equipment, lighting, power tools, power adapters, PCBs, cables, plastic enclosures, etc.

5.Relationship with CE: When an electronic/electrical product undergoes CE certification, RoHS is usually one of the requirements.

REACH: The Master Switch for Chemicals (SVHC + Annex XVII)

1.Full Name: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals

2.Nature: EU Chemical Regulation (EC) 1907/2006

3.What it governs: Chemical substances in almost all products. It has no fixed "10 items" but consists of three core parts: SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern); Annex XVII (Restricted Substances); and Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction.

4.Applicability: Chemicals, plastics, textiles, metal parts, electronic components, packaging materials, etc., may all be involved.

5.Relationship with CE: It is not part of the CE system, but serves as crucial support for chemical compliance within the CE technical documentation.

6.Note: reach testing is not a fixed package. It involves first grading material risks (plastics, coatings, glues, inks, recycled materials, rubber), and then screening items based on the SVHC list + Annex XVII intended uses.

PPWR: Packaging Regulation, More Than Just "Four Heavy Metals"

1.Full Name: Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, EU Regulation (EU) 2025/40

2.Nature: EU "Regulation," directly applicable to member states.

3.What it governs: All packaging and packaging waste placed on the EU market: minimization, empty space ratio; recyclability grading; recycled plastic content; total sum of Lead + Cadmium + Mercury + Hexavalent Chromium ≤ 100mg/kg; PFAS, labeling, EPR registration, etc.

4.Applicability: Cartons, PE bags, courier bags, bottles, cans, films, e-commerce packaging, etc.

5.Relationship with CE: Ordinary packaging has no CE requirement; PPWR is an independent track.

6.Note: Having a PPWR heavy metals report ≠ completing PPWR compliance; having an EPR registration number ≠ exemption from chemical testing.

Top Three Most Confusing Points

RoHS ≠ Environmental Report for All Plastics

Ordinary PE bags, cartons, and foam pads do not require RoHS. RoHS only applies to "electrical and electronic equipment" or packaging/components with electronic functions.

REACH Cannot Replace PPWR

REACH governs SVHCs and restricted substances; PPWR governs packaging recyclability, recycled content, total heavy metals, and EPR. Having a reach report ≠ the packaging complies with PPWR.

PPWR Heavy Metal Limits ≠ RoHS Limits

1.PPWR: Total sum of Pb + Cd + Hg + Cr(VI) ≤ 100mg/kg

2.RoHS: Cd ≤ 0.01%, the other 9 substances each ≤ 0.1%

Typical Product Compliance Combinations

1.Cartons / PE Bags / Courier Bags: PPWR four heavy metals, (buyer's request) Total Fluorine / REACH / POPs.

2.Small Home Appliances / Chargers / Bluetooth Earphones: CE (EMC + LVD + RED), RoHS 10 items, REACH, Packaging PPWR, WEEE / EPR.

3.Smart Packaging / RFID Tags: If it belongs to EEE → CE + RoHS; Packaging layer → PPWR.

4.Textiles / Shoes & Bags / Furniture: REACH (SVHC + Annex XVII), Packaging PPWR, usually no RoHS.

5.Food Contact Packaging: PPWR, REACH, FCM (EU 1935/2004, EU 10/2011), PFAS / Total Fluorine.

JJR LAB Capabilities

JJR LAB possesses CNAS, CMA, ISTA, CPSC, and other qualification capabilities, covering:

1.Chemical Compliance: RoHS 10 items, REACH SVHC, Annex XVII, POPs, PFAS / Total Fluorine, Food Contact Materials.

2.Packaging and Transportation: ISTA 1A/2A/3A, drop, vibration, temperature and humidity, compression, PPWR heavy metals, and pfas testing.

3.Consumer Goods and Light Industry: Textiles, shoes and bags, toys, infant/child products, home furnishings, cosmetics, food contact materials.