The draft revision of China's RoHS GB/T 26572-XXXX "Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products" has been completed and is open for public feedback. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China has completed the preparation of three mandatory standards (drafts for approval), including the "Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products." The Ministry announced on April 14, 2025, soliciting public opinions, with the consultation period ending on April 21, 2025. This draft replaces GB/T 26572-2011 "Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products" and its first amendment, except for structural adjustments and editorial changes. The main revisions are as follows: Requirements for the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products (Draft for Approval) Main revisions a) Added four terms and definitions: "hazardous substances", "environmentally friendly use period", "management catalogue for the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products" and "application exceptions" (see 3.2, 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8); b) Added requirements for the classification of electrical and electronic products and the restriction of the use of hazardous substances (see Chapter 4); c) Added labeling requirements (see Chapter 6); d) Added requirements related to the implementation of the standard (see Chapter 7); e) Deleted the definition of "restricted substances" (see GB/T 26572-2011

From January to February 2025, the EU Safety Gate system announced multiple electronic product violations, primarily involving violations of the EU RoHS Directive, the POPs Regulation, and the REACH Regulation. The primary offending substances included di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), lead, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). The EU continues to strengthen market spot checks. As previously announced, the EU will gradually increase its regulatory compliance review of domestic products, conducting irregular spot checks on products in the domestic market and goods awaiting entry. The EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products (Safety Gate) compiles and publishes product violation information from each member state weekly, and the relevant information is posted on the European Commission's official website for consumers and businesses. Violating products may face recalls, removal from shelves, destruction, and even damage to the company's reputation. Regulations such as RoHS, POPs, and REACH have become key inspection targets, particularly in the electronic and electrical product sector. SGS recommends that relevant companies manage their product supply chains as soon as possible and confirm that the concentration of banned or restricted substances in their products is below the limit to avoid potential sales risks.

The Hanford site, located in the semi-arid desert of Washington State, was once a major production facility for defense plutonium and is now in the nuclear waste cleanup phase. Summers here are scorching, often exceeding 32°C. This year, the Department of Energy (DOE) introduced heat stress monitoring armbands and wireless devices to reduce heat-related accidents among workers. Record-breaking heat: Warning systems reduce injuries. With record-breaking heat waves worldwide, outdoor workers are bearing the brunt of the impact. More and more sites are implementing heat stress warning systems. The detectors monitor workers' heart rate and core temperature, triggering alerts when they exceed certain thresholds, allowing safety personnel to intervene early and reduce the risk of heat-related injuries and accidents. "Our work involves high levels of radiation, hazardous chemicals, and heavy metals, and even then, heat remains one of our greatest risks," said SlateSafety armbands used at a nuclear power facility dismantling site in Tennessee. Stephanie Miller, a contractor's safety and health manager, told the Associated Press that with the device, workers are alerted and treated immediately if they experience any signs of distress, significantly reducing the number of people requiring medical attention. In 2022, nearly 300 people died from heat-related illnesses in Texas. Rogers-O’Brien, a Texas construction contractor whose workers work 50 to 60 hours a week in the scorching heat, introduced wearable sensors and Safeguard software last year.

In response to the demand for artificial intelligence, many major technology companies have accelerated the establishment of data centers in Taiwan, driving the demand for energy management. Eaton, a major uninterruptible power system (UPS) manufacturer, exhibited two models specially designed for data centers at the International Semiconductor on the 4th. UPS, the new general manager of Eaton Electric Taiwan and Philippines Lin Yupei also made his debut. He revealed that in order to satisfy semiconductor AI and data center customers, Eaton has doubled its production capacity in Taiwan this year (2024). The power capacity of the new generation UPS has been increased, and the next step is to introduce thermal monitoring functions. Eaton’s customer list includes first-tier manufacturers such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. As these technology giants continue to build regional (Region) data centers in Asia, Lin Yupei Revealed, "There are currently several cases in progress in Taiwan, and there will be good news soon." In response to the demand for large power in data centers, Eaton launched two products, the 93T series UPS and the 9395XR UPS: • 93T series UPS: specialized The uninterruptible power supply system designed for data centers, industrial facilities and large commercial buildings provides choices of different power ranges from 15 to 200kVA (kilovolt amperes). It adopts double conversion technology and has an efficiency of up to 98% or above, which can effectively reduce energy consumption and operating costs. • 9395XR UPS: specially built for AI large data centers, with a single cabinet power of 2.5MW, saving 78% floor space compared to traditional UPS. In addition, 9395XR supports combination with lithium batteries, which is suitable for energy storage application scenarios and is suitable for large data centers.

After half a year of discussions, the carbon fee rate has been initially set. The Ministry of Environment held another carbon fee rate review meeting today (9th). During the meeting, members gave a clear carbon fee range. The general rate starts at 300 to 500 yuan per ton, and will be adjusted in stages over a period of 2 to 3 years. The preferential rate range will be determined at the next meeting. The Ministry of Environment stated that after the two rate ranges are determined, the actual carbon fee rate will be determined. It is expected that the forecast rate at the end of the year will be used to calculate and collect corporate carbon fees in 2025. The carbon fee rate will start from 300 to 500 yuan per ton, pending the final decision of the Ministry of Environment. Large carbon emitters will begin to apply for carbon fees on a trial basis next year (2025) and start paying in 2026. The Ministry of Environment held its fifth carbon fee review meeting today, which lasted four and a half hours, and the carbon fee figures were finally initially set. In an interview after the meeting, Huang Weiming, deputy director of the Climate Agency, pointed out that the general rate range has been determined: the starting price is 300 to 500 yuan per ton, and will be increased in stages to 1,200 to 1,800 yuan after 2030. Huang Weiming said that after the sixth meeting at the end of September and early October, the Ministry of Environment will consider all factors to decide on specific figures. Huang Weiming said that the carbon fee rate range is set with reference to the carbon pricing experience of neighboring countries and international assessment reports. For example, Singapore's carbon tax currently receives more than NT$500 per ton. Lin Yanting, a private representative of the Carbon Fee Review Committee and a researcher at the Environmental Rights Protection Foundation, said helplessly that there is a gap between the rates and expectations. The current rates may not even be 300 yuan after being fully discounted. Regarding the final announced rate, the environmental group hopes that the Ministry of Environment will stick to the "300 yuan after discount"