With increasing international emphasis on environmental issues, the EU's RoHS (Restricted Use of Hazardous Substances) directive has incorporated environmental requirements into trade conditions, restricting the levels of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in electrical and electronic products exported to the EU. As a major exporter of electrical, electronic, and information and communication products, Taiwan has developed the national standard CNS 15663, "Guidelines for Reducing the Content of Restricted Chemical Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment," to assist domestic industries in adapting to international environmental trends and to ensure that products sold domestically meet international environmental standards. For the testing of six chemical substances in electrical and electronic equipment—lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)—the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) has established two national standards: CNS 15050 "Determination of Six Controlled Substances (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Polybrominated Biphenyls, and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers) in Electrical and Electronic Products" (published on June 7, 2000) and CNS 15479 "Determination of Mercury Content in Fluorescent Tubes" (published on May 26, 2011). These standards are available for reference by all sectors. The BSMI stated that since countries internationally manage the restriction of these six chemical substances in electrical and electronic equipment primarily through regulations, and there are currently no domestic regulations to rely on, CNS 15663 covers applicable product categories, types of restricted substances (lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers), content standards, and labeling methods, serving as a guideline for the industry.
