Technical Regulation TR EAEU 037/2016 “On restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment” establishes mandatory requirements for products placed on the market of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
The regulation limits the concentration of specified hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment to protect human life, health and the environment and prevent misleading information about products.
TR EAEU 037/2016 addresses similar objectives to EU Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS). However, the scope, exemptions and conformity assessment procedures must be assessed separately. EU RoHS documentation does not automatically replace the required EAC conformity document.
Adopted: October 18, 2016.
Entered into force: March 1, 2018.
Scope of TR EAEU 037/2016
The product categories listed in Annex 1 include:
- household electrical appliances;
- computers and equipment connected to computers;
- telecommunications equipment;
- copying machines and other electrical office equipment;
- electrical power tools;
- light sources and lighting equipment, including equipment incorporated into furniture;
- electronic musical instruments;
- gaming and vending machines;
- cash machines, ticket-printing machines and electronic cash registers;
- cables, wires and cords rated up to 500 V, excluding fibre-optic cables;
- circuit breakers and residual current devices;
- fire, security and fire-security alarm detectors.
The precise product descriptions and conditions in Annex 1 must be checked when determining whether a particular product falls within the regulation’s scope.
Products outside the scope
The regulation provides exclusions for certain products, including:
- electrical and electronic products rated up to 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC that are not included in Annex 1, unless otherwise specified;
- products intended exclusively as components of equipment not included in Annex 1;
- electrical toys;
- photovoltaic panels forming part of solar power installations;
- equipment intended for use in ground-based and orbital space facilities;
- equipment intended exclusively for air, water, land or underground transport;
- batteries and accumulators, including those incorporated into other products;
- used electrical and electronic products;
- measuring instruments;
- medical devices.
Exclusions must be assessed against the exact wording of the regulation. Exclusion from TR EAEU 037/2016 does not automatically exempt a product from other applicable requirements.
Restricted substances
The regulation establishes concentration limits for specified substances in homogeneous materials, subject to the applicable exemptions.
| Restricted substance | Maximum concentration by weight in a homogeneous material |
|---|---|
| Lead | 0.1% |
| Mercury | 0.1% |
| Cadmium | 0.01% |
| Hexavalent chromium | 0.1% |
| Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) | 0.1% |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | 0.1% |
Conformity assessment
Conformity with TR EAEU 037/2016 is generally confirmed through an EAC Declaration. Where permitted by the regulation, declaration may be replaced by EAC Certification at the applicant’s request.
The declaration schemes distinguish between serial production and a specific batch:
- Serial production: schemes 1d, 3d and 6d;
- A specific batch: schemes 2d and 4d.
The required evidence and testing arrangements depend on the selected scheme. The use of the applicant’s own evidence must be distinguished from testing in an accredited laboratory. Scheme 6d also involves the applicable quality management system requirements.
Technical documentation, material and component information, and test reports must provide sufficient evidence that the product meets the restricted substance requirements. Existing EU RoHS evidence should be reviewed for its suitability rather than assumed to be sufficient.
Other applicable regulations
Products may also fall within the scope of other EAEU technical regulations, including:
- TR CU 004/2011 On safety of low-voltage equipment ;
- TR CU 020/2011 On electromagnetic compatibility .
All applicable requirements must be considered when preparing the conformity assessment procedure.
Supporting documents
The required technical documentation depends on the product and assessment scheme. It may include:
- a technical description and product specifications;
- design documents, drawings and diagrams;
- information about materials and components;
- supplier declarations and relevant supporting evidence;
- test reports;
- an instruction manual;
- manufacturer and applicant details;
- batch or supply documents, where applicable;
- quality management system documentation, where required.
Documents must meet the language and submission requirements of the applicable procedure.
Instructions for use and product identification
The operational documentation should identify the product and provide the information required for its safe and intended use, including:
- the product type, brand and model;
- key technical parameters and characteristics;
- the manufacturer’s name and trademark, where applicable;
- the country of manufacture;
- the intended use;
- instructions for operation, storage, transportation and disposal;
- instructions for dealing with faults, where relevant;
- the manufacturer’s and other responsible parties’ contact details, as required;
- the date of manufacture.
Product and packaging information must also comply with the identification and labelling requirements applicable to the equipment.
EAC marking
Products that have completed the required conformity assessment must bear the EAC conformity mark before being placed on the market.
The mark must remain clear and legible throughout the product’s service life. Where direct marking is not possible, the permitted alternative placement on packaging and accompanying documentation must follow the regulation.
The EAC mark may only be applied when the product complies with all applicable technical regulations.
Validity of the conformity documents
The validity period depends on the selected assessment scheme and whether the document covers serial production or a specific batch. For serial production, the applicable period may be up to five years.
The document must accurately identify the products, manufacturer and production or supply arrangements it covers.
Contact Schmidt & Schmidt with a product description, technical specifications and available RoHS documentation. We will assess the applicable conformity assessment requirements and advise on the next steps.
