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Restricted Substance
Testing — RoHS, REACH,
PAH, PFAS, Phthalates
Complete regulatory compliance testing for electronics, automotive, consumer products, and industrial goods. IEC 62321 accredited. GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, ICP-MS analytical platform.
EU Directive 2011/65/EU & 2015/863/EU
RoHS Testing — 10 Restricted Substances
Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment. All substances tested per IEC 62321 series. RoHS 3 (2015/863/EU) added four phthalates effective July 2019.
| Substance | Limit | Method | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | 1000 ppm | IEC 62321-5 | ICP-MS / ICP-OES |
| Cadmium (Cd) | 100 ppm | IEC 62321-5 | ICP-MS / ICP-OES |
| Mercury (Hg) | 1000 ppm | IEC 62321-4 | ICP-MS |
| Hexavalent Chromium (Cr⁶⁺) | 1000 ppm | IEC 62321-7-1 (metals) / 7-2 (polymers) | UV-Vis / alkaline digestion |
| Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB) | 1000 ppm | IEC 62321-6 | GC-MS |
| Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE) | 1000 ppm | IEC 62321-6 | GC-MS |
| Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) | 1000 ppm | IEC 62321-8 | GC-MS |
| Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) | 1000 ppm | IEC 62321-8 | GC-MS |
| Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) | 1000 ppm | IEC 62321-8 | GC-MS |
| Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) | 1000 ppm | IEC 62321-8 | GC-MS |
RoHS 3 Note: Directive 2015/863/EU amended Annex II of RoHS 2, restricting DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP (phthalates) to 0.1% by weight of homogeneous material in EEE. Effective 22 July 2019 for most product categories.
IEC 62321 Part 10 — AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK
PAH Testing — 18-Compound Panel
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in rubber, plastic, and coating materials on consumer goods. GC-MS after Soxhlet extraction. Categorised per AfPS GS 2019:01 (German Product Safety Committee).
| PAH Compound | Abbreviation | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Benzo[a]pyrene | BaP | Category 1 |
| Benzo[e]pyrene | BeP | Category 1 |
| Benzo[a]anthracene | BaA | Category 1 |
| Chrysene | CHR | Category 1 |
| Benzo[b]fluoranthene | BbFA | Category 1 |
| Benzo[j]fluoranthene | BjFA | Category 1 |
| Benzo[k]fluoranthene | BkFA | Category 1 |
| Dibenz[a,h]anthracene | DBAhA | Category 1 |
| Benzo[g,h,i]perylene | BghiP | Category 2 |
| Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene | IcP | Category 2 |
| Acenaphthylene | ACY | Category 3 |
| Acenaphthene | ACE | Category 3 |
| Fluorene | FLU | Category 3 |
| Phenanthrene | PHE | Category 3 (not in AfPS) |
| Fluoranthene | FLT | Category 3 |
| Pyrene | PYR | Category 3 |
| Naphthalene | NAP | Category 3 |
| Anthracene | ANT | Category 3 |
Standards: IEC 62321 Part 10, AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK. Method: GC-MS after Soxhlet extraction. Category 1 compounds are carcinogenic/mutagenic; Category 2 are probable carcinogens; Category 3 are under regulatory watch.
EU Regulation 1907/2006
REACH Compliance Testing
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. Candidate List SVHC screening and Annex XVII restriction testing for substances of very high concern.
SVHC Screening
240+ substances on the ECHA Candidate List. Multi-technique approach: GC-MS for organics, LC-MS for polar compounds, ICP-MS for inorganic SVHCs. Screening against the current Candidate List with quantification of detected substances.
- GC-MS
- LC-MS
- ICP-MS
Phthalates (6-compound)
DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP, DINP, DIDP per REACH Annex XVII Entry 51/52. Limit: 0.1% w/w individually in soft PVC articles for children. GC-MS after solvent extraction. Combined RoHS + REACH phthalate reporting available.
- REACH Annex XVII
- GC-MS
BPA (Bisphenol A)
HPLC / LC-MS quantification. Limit: 0.04% in thermal paper (REACH Annex XVII Entry 66); various limits for toys, food contact, and childcare articles. Relevant to polycarbonate, epoxy resins, and thermal coatings.
- HPLC
- LC-MS
Azo Dyes — 22 Aromatic Amines
22 carcinogenic aromatic amines released from azo colourants, per REACH Annex XVII Entry 43. GC-MS after reductive cleavage with sodium dithionite. Applicable to textiles, leather, and dyed articles with prolonged skin contact.
- REACH Annex XVII Entry 43
- GC-MS
Nickel Release
Nickel release testing for articles with prolonged skin contact — jewellery, buckles, studs, watch straps. EN 1811 (direct skin contact) and EN 12472 (simulated wear/corrosion). Limit: 0.5 µg/cm²/week for primary post-assembly articles.
- EN 1811
- EN 12472
Organotin Compounds
Dibutyltin (DBT), Dioctyltin (DOT), Tributyltin (TBT), Triphenyltin (TPT) by GC-MS. REACH Annex XVII Entry 20. Applications: PVC stabilisers, biocides, antifouling coatings, textile auxiliaries.
- REACH Annex XVII Entry 20
- GC-MS
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
PFAS Testing — LC-MS/MS Platform
PFAS are persistent environmental contaminants subject to accelerating global regulation. Microlab offers targeted PFOS/PFOA analysis and total PFAS screening by LC-MS/MS — the gold-standard technique for sub-ppb quantification.
| Analyte | Regulation | Technique |
|---|---|---|
| PFOS Perfluorooctane sulphonate |
REACH Annex XVII Entry 30 Limit: 10 ppb (firefighting foam 50 ppb) |
LC-MS/MS |
| PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid |
REACH Annex XVII Entry 68 Limit: 25 ppb (articles), 2 ppb (firefighting foam) |
LC-MS/MS |
| Total PFAS Screening | US EPA TSCA EU PFAS Universal Restriction |
LC-MS/MS |
Regulatory Context
EU REACH — PFOS
Annex XVII Entry 30 restricts PFOS in articles and preparations. Lowest threshold: 10 ng/g (ppb) in articles.
EU REACH — PFOA
Annex XVII Entry 68 restricts PFOA, its salts, and related substances. Applies to textiles, coatings, paper, and food contact materials.
US EPA TSCA
Section 8(a)(7) PFAS reporting rule. PFOS & PFOA listed as hazardous substances under CERCLA. Reporting thresholds apply.
Applicable Products
Textiles, food packaging, cookware coatings, firefighting foam, industrial lubricants, semiconductor process chemicals, automotive parts.
Extended Scope
Additional Restricted Substance Tests
| Test | Standards | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Asbestos Identification | PLM / TEM | Building materials, gaskets, friction materials |
| Formaldehyde | EN 717, JIS A 1460 | Wood panels, textiles, adhesives, resin-bonded products |
| Heavy Metals in Packaging | 94/62/EC, CONEG | Total Pb + Cd + Hg + Cr⁶⁺ < 100 ppm — packaging and packaging waste |
| Toy Safety — Chemical | EN 71-3 (migration), EN 71-9 | 19 heavy metal migration limits from toy materials; banned substances per EN 71-9 |
| Food Contact Migration | EU 10/2011, IS 9845 | Overall migration limit and specific migration for plastics in contact with food |
| Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) | VDA 277, VDA 278 | Automotive interior emissions — headspace GC-MS for total VOC and individual compounds |
Screening vs. Confirmation Testing
Two tiers of analysis for regulatory compliance
Screening (XRF)
Rapid, non-destructive, cost-effective
Handheld or benchtop XRF for rapid pass/fail screening of Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr, Br. Suitable for incoming inspection, supplier qualification, and batch-level monitoring. Results in hours, not days.
IEC 62321-3-1 (XRF screening)
Confirmation (ICP / GC-MS)
Quantitative, regulatory-grade
Acid digestion + ICP-OES for metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr⁶⁺). GC-MS or LC-MS for organic restricted substances (phthalates, PFAS, PAH). Required when XRF screening is inconclusive or for formal declarations.
IEC 62321-4/5/7/8 · EPA 3052 · EN 14582
Material Coverage
What we can test
Metals, polymers, coatings, PCBs, solder, cables, textiles, packaging materials, electronic components, consumer products. Homogeneous material separation and preparation handled in-house.
Declarations vs. Analytical Testing
Understanding when testing is needed versus supplier declarations
When Declarations Suffice
Low-risk materials from established suppliers with documented compliance history, IEC 63000 certificates, and material data sheets. Periodic verification testing recommended (annual or on supplier change).
When Analytical Testing Is Required
New suppliers, suspect materials, customer audit requirements, EU market entry, high-risk material categories (alloys with Pb/Cd, PVC compounds, pigmented coatings), or when declarations lack substance-level detail.
Instrumentation
Analytical Platform for Restricted Substance Testing
Each substance class demands a specific analytical technique. Microlab deploys a multi-instrument platform to cover the full scope of RoHS, REACH, PAH, and PFAS requirements under one roof.
ICP-OES with autosampler — RoHS restricted substance screening
GC-MS
PAH, phthalates, PBB/PBDE, VOC, azo dyes, organotin compounds
LC-MS/MS
PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, total PFAS screening), BPA, organotin compounds
ICP-MS
Heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr) at ppb level; SVHC inorganic screening
ICP-OES
Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr screening; packaging heavy metals per 94/62/EC
UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
Hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺) and colorimetric analyte quantification per IEC 62321-7-1/7-2
UV-Vis Spectroscopy
Hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺) quantification per IEC 62321-7-1/7-2
HPLC
BPA quantification; formaldehyde; specific analytes in complex matrices
FTIR
Material identification and screening prior to targeted analysis
Sectors We Serve
Industries — Restricted Substance Compliance
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. Candidate List SVHC screening and Annex XVII restriction testing for substances of very hiRegulatory requirements vary by sector. Our team advises on the applicable directive, the correct test scope, and homogeneous material decomposition strategy.gh concern.
Electronics & Electrical
EU RoHS, IEC 62321, EEE market access
Automotive
GADSL, RoHS, PAH in rubber/plastic parts, VOC per VDA 277/278
Consumer Products
Toys (EN 71), jewellery (nickel release), childcare articles
Packaging
Heavy metals < 100 ppm per 94/62/EC and CONEG
Medical Devices
SVHC in implantables, REACH compliance for MDR market access
Textile & Leather
Azo dyes, formaldehyde, nickel release, REACH Annex XVII
Food Contact Materials
EU 10/2011 migration testing, BPA, IS 9845
Construction Products
Asbestos ID, formaldehyde in panels, heavy metals in coatings
5–7 Days
Standard Turnaround
Customer specfic
Express Testing
ISO 17025
Reports
Related Services
Polymer Testing
Plastics, rubber, and foam testing including tensile, impact, HDT, MFI, and DSC
Metals Testing
Complete mechanical, chemical, and metallurgical testing for metals and alloys.
Packaging & Tapes
Corrugated board, adhesive tape, flexible packaging, and transport simulation testing
Contact Us
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