In many countries around the world products need to comply with regulations. Often regulations forbid the use of certain raw materials and subject the product to functionality and performance rules. Compliance in many cases has to be substantiated by laboratory tests. Furthermore the labelling and packaging often needs to comply with certain regulations.
In the past, many suppliers have not taken these regulations very seriously or have been unaware of their obligations. This enabled them to offer cheaper prices. Mostly they got away with it because there was not much control. MSupport are very aware of their responsibility and make every effort to control the production for quality and raw material contents. For this, we have our own buying staff in China.
More and more countries are introducing regulations, often with the objective to protect the consumer and the environment against undesirable substances and to establish a chain of product liability.
Below we have summarised some regulations that apply to our products in some countries where we are active. This list is by no means meant to be exhaustive and is constantly subject to changes. The information is only indicative and you should consult the original law texts in your country to establish how you are affected.
Regulations in the EU
Regulations in Turkey
Regulations in the GCC countries
Regulations in the USA
The whole supply chain bears a responsibility for goods brought into the EU.
Ultimately most products should be CE marked and the supply chain including the customer should make sure that this mark has been justly applied based on the correct regulations. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (EEA EFTA States), adhere to the same principles.
The EU Blue Guide clarifies responsibilities in the supply chain. You can find a link to the Blue Guide in the right hand frame in this page.
The RoHS Directive (2015/863) forbids the use of certain raw materials and this has 
to be substantiated by laboratory tests. A link is supplied in the right hand frame on this page.
The Low Voltage Directive ( 2006/95/EU amended by 2014/35/EU) details some performance limitations for the safety of the consumer that for instance earphones need to adhere to.
REACH is a European Union Regulation and stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. Its purpose is to protect the health of people and environment against potential harmful chemicals.
Companies are obligated to identify the chemicals used in their products and evaluate the risk that this poses and inform their clients if any harmful substances on the REACH list within certain limits have been found.
A link to the REACH regulation is supplied in the right hand frame on this page.
In the EU labelling and packaging regulations apply.
Since 2016 there is a noticeable increase in control activities, the EU has now started to seriously enforce these regulations. Non-compliant goods are not allowed into the EU.
Once the goods have been successfully imported into the EU, for some products there is a responsibility concerning recycling. For electrical and electronic products
this is laid down in the WEEE directive (2012/19/EU) and the EEA EFTA States also adhere to this. A link is provided in the right hand frame on this page.
Who is responsible for what depends on your status in the supply chain and other issues like whether the product is branded or not. In principle where WEEE is concerned, unless you buy from a local distributor, you will be the responsible party for WEEE. In a number of countries we take over this responsibility from our customers .
For earphones we have constructed a simple flow chart for you. If you want to find out if the product you buy complies with EU law you can download it from the right hand frame of this page.
In 2002, the Government of Turkey announced the implementation of 23 EU industrial directives, which would affect an estimated 70% of the manufactured products imported into Turkey, including the products sold by MSupport (Law # 4703)
In May 2012, Turkey combined 22/95/EC ROHS and 2002/96/EC WEEE directives under a new Directive named “Controlling Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.” The Ministry of Environment is the responsible government agency overseeing the regulation, which became effective the same year.
Companies selling to the Turkish market must submit evidence of conformity (CE Mark) either by providing a notarized conformity certificate from a notified body or a manufacturer’s issued certificate of conformity, which declares compliance of all relevant directives.
On the 23th of June,2017, the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urbanization (MoEU) has issued the promised Turkish KKDIK regulation which was enforced from 23 December 2017. The Turkish law KKDIK is closely harmonized with the EU REACH provisions.
Labelling regulations apply in Turkey
Regulations in the GCC Countries
The Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization (GSO) is establishing uniform requirements for the level of hazardous substances in electrical products to apply across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States(United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Yemen).
In 2017 the United Arab Emirates (UAE) became the first Gulf state to introduce a RoHS scheme which became effective on 1 January 2018. Since the start much comment has been made on problematic omissions in the legislation, not least the challenges in understanding how to demonstrate compliance in practice. Although parties obligated under that regulation have seen some improvement, the GSO’s regulation will on commencement replace the controversial UAE measure.
GCC is harmonizing with both the EU and UAE with regard to substances controlled.
Labelling regulations apply in the GCC
In the USA there are a number or RoHS type regulations for Electronic and Electrical products that differ from state to state. Some deal with video displays or televisions screens only, other have a wider product scope. Where restrictions on the use of Hazardous materials exist they or mostly based on the restrictions as laid down in the EU RoHS Directive. Some information can be found here.
Since November 1986 there is a law in California called Proposition 65. 
This law obligates companies who make or sell products in California to give “clear and reason-able warning” to consumers if their product contains a chemical listed under Proposition 65. This could include labelling, signage or public notices. This does not apply to products whose exposure levels are insignificant relative to the level required to cause health damage. The threshold levels for this relative measurement (also referred to as the safe harbour levels) are determined by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).
Labelling regulations apply in the USA
