RoHS Testing Is Not Certification — Product Testing & Conformity Explained
RoHS is not a certificate you buy — it is restricted-substance testing plus a Declaration of Conformity. Learn what EU buyers actually accept.
RoHS Testing Is Not Certification — Product Testing & Conformity Explained
Search agencies advertise RoHS certification — but legally there is no RoHS certificate issued by a government body. RoHS (EU Directive 2011/65/EU) is met through substance testing (often IEC 62321 series), technical documentation and the manufacturer's EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) — usually signed by the EU importer or authorised representative.
What RoHS actually requires
Restrict 10 substances (lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, plus four phthalates under RoHS 3). Demonstrate compliance via test reports at homogeneous material level or robust supplier declarations backed by spot testing.
RoHS vs a 'certificate'
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| 'We need RoHS certification' | You need valid test evidence + DoC for CE-marked EEE |
| 'Lab logo PDF = RoHS approved' | Labs issue test reports, not legal RoHS grants |
| 'One test covers all SKUs' | Each material / colour / supplier change can invalidate scope |
Pair RoHS testing with EU CE export requirements.
How Certko + Instacertify help
- Map your SKU on Products and the right scheme on Certifications.
- Shortlist labs and scopes via Testing and Find a lab.
- We coordinate documentation, queries and buyer-ready packs — free scoping quote in 24 hours.
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FAQ
1. Can Certko issue RoHS certification?
No — and neither can a lab in the legal sense. We coordinate RoHS substance testing and help you assemble conformity documentation; the DoC remains the manufacturer's/importer's legal statement.
Related reading: RoHS is testing, not certification · EU CE export FAQ · Heavy metals testing · Chemical testing
Disclaimer: Regulations, QCO notifications, WPC frequency plans and destination-market rules change. Confirm the current requirement for your exact model, composition and export country before booking irreversible tests or filing applications.
