China RoHS Update: New Mandatory Standard GB 26572-2025 Published

On August 1, 2025, Chinese authorities officially published GB 26572-2025: Requirements for Restricted Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products. This marks a significant shift for companies manufacturing, importing, or selling electrical and electronic products in China.

Unlike earlier guidance documents, this new standard is a mandatory national standard (no longer voluntary). It will take full effect on August 1, 2027, providing businesses a two-year transition window.

Key Changes in GB 26572-2025

• Mandatory status: The standard is now binding nationwide, replacing the previously voluntary frameworks.

  
  

• Consolidation of requirements: It combines and replaces earlier recommended standards, including:

  
  

  • GB/T 26572-2011 (concentration limits)

  • SJ/T 11364 (labeling requirements)

    
    

• Expansion of restricted substances: The controlled list grows from six to ten substances, with the addition of four phthalates:

  
  

  • DEHP

  • DBP

  • DIBP

  • BBP

    
    

• Threshold levels: The phthalates are restricted at 0.1%, aligning with EU RoHS.

  
  

Timing of Implementation

Previously, industry expected the phthalate restrictions to apply from January 1, 2026. However, GB 26572-2025 officially ties their enforcement to the full effective date of the new standard: August 1, 2027.

This adjustment postpones compliance deadlines, but also underscores the importance of preparing early. Businesses will need to update product designs, material declarations, and supplier data collection processes to ensure smooth compliance.

What This Means for Businesses

China is moving toward a stricter and more harmonized compliance environment. By consolidating and expanding requirements, GB 26572-2025 signals a clear push toward aligning with international standards like EU RoHS—while also maintaining unique Chinese requirements.

Organizations operating in China should:

• Review supply chains for impacted materials, particularly phthalates.

• Update labeling and documentation processes in line with the consolidated requirements.

• Engage suppliers early to ensure timely collection of updated declarations.

• Leverage compliance automation tools to avoid costly delays as the 2027 deadline approaches.

How GoCompliance Can Help

GoCompliance streamlines global compliance management by:

• Automating supplier data collection and validation.

• Rolling up compliance status across your full bill of materials.

• Generating audit-ready reports to meet both Chinese and international requirements.

• Integrating seamlessly with Oracle Cloud PLM and other ERP/PLM systems.

With China RoHS now shifting to a mandatory framework, companies that prepare early will minimize disruption and maintain market access. GoCompliance provides the tools to simplify this transition.

Stay ahead of the new GB 26572-2025 standard. Book a demo with our compliance experts today.