Imagine this scenario: A carefully prepared shipment of goods arrives at TEMU's European marketplace, full of sales potential, only to be held at customs due to an outdated compliance document. This is not hypothetical—many TEMU sellers are currently facing exactly this predicament. The issue stems from obsolete standards referenced in their CE-RoHS Declaration of Conformity (DoC), which must now be updated to the latest EN IEC 63000:2018 standard. This compliance storm is sweeping through TEMU's European operations, and every seller should take notice.
RoHS Directive: The Essential Passport for Electronics in Europe
The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive regulates the use of specific hazardous materials in electrical and electronic equipment sold in the European Union. The current version, RoHS 3.0 (2015/863/EU), restricts ten substances: lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), and four phthalates. Any electronic device marketed in Europe must comply with these requirements or risk removal from shelves, fines, or even sales bans.
The directive applies broadly to nearly all electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) operating below 1000V AC or 1500V DC. This encompasses eleven product categories including household appliances, IT equipment, consumer electronics, lighting, power tools, toys, medical devices, and vending machines.
EN IEC 63000:2018: The New Gold Standard for RoHS Compliance
EN IEC 63000:2018, formally titled "Assessment of technical documentation regarding the restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products," represents the EU's updated harmonized standard for RoHS compliance. Published by the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), it replaces EN 50581:2012 as the sole recognized standard for RoHS technical documentation and Declarations of Conformity since November 18, 2021.
Unlike its predecessor, EN IEC 63000:2018 extends beyond EU-specific requirements to facilitate global harmonization of hazardous substance regulations. The updated standard also introduces revised material declaration requirements and enhanced testing methodologies for more comprehensive compliance assessment.
EU Commission Decision (EU) 2020/659 explicitly mandates EN IEC 63000:2018 as the exclusive reference standard for RoHS documentation. Companies must promptly update their DoCs, eliminating references to obsolete standards like EN 50581:2012.
How TEMU Sellers Should Respond to the Compliance Update
For TEMU's European marketplace sellers, this regulatory evolution presents manageable challenges with proactive measures:
- Audit all RoHS Declarations: Immediately review existing DoCs to verify EN IEC 63000:2018 compliance. Replace documents referencing outdated standards.
- Update testing standard references: Transition from IEC 62321 series test methods to EN IEC 63000:2018 as the definitive compliance benchmark in documentation.
- Submit revised documentation promptly: Upload updated DoCs through TEMU's platform to prevent sales disruptions during compliance reviews.
- Monitor ongoing standard revisions: The IEC 63000 series undergoes periodic updates. Maintaining awareness of regulatory developments ensures sustained market access.
While regulatory compliance presents persistent challenges, TEMU sellers who implement these measures can navigate the transition successfully, ensuring uninterrupted access to Europe's vital consumer markets.