This part of IEC 62321 describes the screening analysis of substances, specifically lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), total chromium (Cr), total bromine (Br), total phosphorus (P), assuming the source of P is related to TCEP (CAS 115-96-8), Trixylyl‑phosphate (CAS 25155-23-1), total chlorine (Cl), assuming the source of Cl is related to SCCP (CAS 85535-84-8), TCEP (CAS 115-96-8) , TBTC (CAS 1461-22-9), total tin (Sn), assuming the source of Sn is related to restricted organo‑tin compounds, total antimony (Sb), assuming the source of Sb is related to Pyrochlore, and antimony lead yellow (CAS 8012-00-8) in uniform materials found in electrotechnical products, using the analytical technique of X‑ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry.
The same methodology can also be used for screening of substances discussed as critical raw materials in various countries (for example currently discussed in the EU: antimony (Sb), baryte, bismuth (Bi), cobalt (Co), fluorspar, gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), hafnium (Hf), indium (In), magnesium (Mg), niobium (Nb), phosphorus (P), scandium (Sc), tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), vanadium (V), platinum group metals, heavy rare earth elements, light rare earth elements).
NOTE From EU information on critical raw materials [1]1 raw materials are crucial to Europe's economy. They form a strong industrial base, producing a broad range of goods and applications used in everyday life and modern technologies. Reliable and unhindered access to certain raw materials is a growing concern within the EU and across the globe. To address this challenge, the European Commission has created a list of critical raw materials (CRMs) for the EU, which is subject to a regular review and update. CRMs combine raw materials of high importance to the EU economy and of high risk associated with their supply.
The method is applicable to plastics, metals and ceramic materials. The test method can be applied to raw materials, individual materials taken from products and "homogenized" mixtures of more than one material. Screening of a sample is performed using any type of XRF spectrometer, provided it has the performance characteristics specified in this test method. Not all types of XRF spectrometers are suitable for all sizes and shapes of sample. The appropriate spectrometer design will be selected with care for the task concerned.
The performance of this test method has been tested for the following substances in various media and within the concentration ranges as specified in Table 1 to Table 5. During an IIS (international interlaboratory study) the feasibility of the test method to use for the added elements was tested. The results are listed in Table 6 to Table 10.
These substances in similar media outside of the specified concentration ranges can be analysed according to this test method; however, the performance has not been established for this document.
WARNING – Persons using this International Standard should be familiar with normal laboratory practice. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to ensure compliance with any national regulatory conditions.
This document is a basic environment horizontal publication focusing on test methods and is primarily intended for use by committees in the preparation of publications within the area of environment in accordance with the principles laid down in IEC Guide 123. Wherever applicable, it is the responsibility of committees to make use of environment basic publications in the preparation of their environment group and product publications. Committees can apply this document directly to products when they do not develop a product publication in the area of environment.

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IEC 62321-3-1:2026 is available as IEC 62321-3-1:2026 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition. IEC 62321-3-1:2026 describes the screening analysis of substances, specifically lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), total chromium (Cr), total bromine (Br), total phosphorus (P), assuming the source of P is related to TCEP (CAS 115‑96‑8), Trixylyl-phosphate (CAS 25155‑23‑1), total chlorine (Cl), assuming the source of Cl is related to SCCP (CAS 85535‑84‑8), TCEP (CAS 115‑96‑8) , TBTC (CAS 1461‑22‑9), total tin (Sn), assuming the source of Sn is related to restricted organo-tin compounds, total antimony (Sb), assuming the source of Sb is related to Pyrochlore, and antimony lead yellow (CAS 8012‑00‑8) in uniform materials found in electrotechnical products, using the analytical technique of X‑ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous editions of IEC 62321-3-1:2013 and IEC 62321:2008: a) This second edition of IEC 62321-3-1 includes the analysis of additional elements as indicators for additional substances. The selection is based on IEC TR 62936:2016. There are also comments about using the same methology for screening for content of critical raw materials (CRMs). This document has been given the status of a horizontal document in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1.

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This part of IEC 62321 provides strategies of sampling along with the mechanical preparation of samples from electrotechnical products. These samples can be used for analytical testing to determine the levels of certain substances as described in the test methods in other parts of the IEC 62321 series. Restrictions for substances will vary between geographic regions and can be updated on a regular basis. This document describes a generic process for obtaining and preparing samples prior to the determination of any substance of concern.
This document does not provide:
- full guidance on each and every product that could be classified as electrotechnical product. Since there is a huge variety of electrotechnical parts, with various structures and compositions, along with the continuous innovations in the industry, it is unrealistic to attempt to provide procedures for the disjointment of every type of part;
- guidance regarding other routes to gather additional information on certain substances in a product, although the information collected has relevance to the sampling strategies in this document;
- safe disassembly and mechanical disjointment instructions related to electrotechnical products (e.g. mercury-containing switches) and the recycling industry (e.g. how to handle CRTs or the safe removal of batteries). See IEC 62554 [1] 1 for the disjointment and mechanical sample preparation of mercury-containing fluorescent lamps;
- sampling procedures for packaging and packaging materials;
- analytical procedures to measure the levels of certain substances. This is covered by other standards (e.g. other parts of the IEC 62321 series), which are referred to as "test standards" in this document;
- guidelines for assessment of compliance.
This document has the status of a horizontal standard in accordance with IEC Guide 108 [2].

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This part of IEC 62321 provides strategies of sampling along with the mechanical preparation of samples from electrotechnical products. These samples can be used for analytical testing to determine the levels of certain substances as described in the test methods in other parts of the IEC 62321 series. Restrictions for substances will vary between geographic regions and can be updated on a regular basis. This document describes a generic process for obtaining and preparing samples prior to the determination of any substance of concern. This document does not provide: - full guidance on each and every product that could be classified as electrotechnical product. Since there is a huge variety of electrotechnical parts, with various structures and compositions, along with the continuous innovations in the industry, it is unrealistic to attempt to provide procedures for the disjointment of every type of part; - guidance regarding other routes to gather additional information on certain substances in a product, although the information collected has relevance to the sampling strategies in this document; - safe disassembly and mechanical disjointment instructions related to electrotechnical products (e.g. mercury-containing switches) and the recycling industry (e.g. how to handle CRTs or the safe removal of batteries). See IEC 62554 [1] 1 for the disjointment and mechanical sample preparation of mercury-containing fluorescent lamps; - sampling procedures for packaging and packaging materials; - analytical procedures to measure the levels of certain substances. This is covered by other standards (e.g. other parts of the IEC 62321 series), which are referred to as "test standards" in this document; - guidelines for assessment of compliance. This document has the status of a horizontal standard in accordance with IEC Guide 108 [2].

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IEC 63000:2016 specifies the technical documentation that the manufacturer compiles in order to declare compliance with the applicable substance restrictions

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IEC 63000:2016 specifies the technical documentation that the manufacturer compiles in order to declare compliance with the applicable substance restrictions

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This document provides guidance on auditing management systems, including the principles of auditing, managing an audit programme and conducting management system audits, as well as guidance on the evaluation of competence of individuals involved in the audit process. These activities include the individual(s) managing the audit programme, auditors and audit teams.
It is applicable to all organizations that need to plan and conduct internal or external audits of management systems or manage an audit programme.
The application of this document to other types of audits is possible, provided that special consideration is given to the specific competence needed.

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IEC 62321-6:2015 specifies one normative and two informative techniques for the determination of polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in polymers of electrotechnical products. The test methods are: - The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS); - The ion attachment mass spectrometry (IAMS) technique and - The high-pressure liquid chromatography technique. This first edition of IEC 62321-6 is a partial replacement of IEC 62321:2008, forming a structural revision and generally replacing Annex A.

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IEC 62321-4:2013 describes the use of four test methods for mercury in polymers, metals and electronics, namely CV-AAS (cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry), CV-AFS (cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry) ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry), and ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) as well as several procedures for preparing the sample solution from which the most appropriate method of analysis can be selected by experts.

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IEC 62321-3-1:2013 describes the screening analysis of five substances, specifically lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), total chromium (Cr) and total bromine (Br) in uniform materials found in electrotechnical products, using the analytical technique of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry.

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IEC 62321-5:2013 describes the four test methods for lead, cadmium and chromium in polymers, metals and electronics, namely AAS (atomic absorption spectrometry), AFS (atomic fluorescence spectrometry), ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry), and ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) as well as several procedures for preparing the sample solution from which the most appropriate method of analysis can be selected by experts.

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IEC 62321-3-2:2013 specifies the screening analysis of the total bromine (Br) in homogeneous materials found in polymers and electronics by using the analytical technique of combustion ion chromatography (C-IC).

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IEC 62321-1:2013 refers to the sample as the object to be processed and measured. The nature of the sample and the manner in which it is acquired is defined by the entity carrying out the tests and not by this standard. It provides guidance on the disassembly procedure employed for obtaining a sample. This first edition of IEC 62321-1 is a partial replacement of IEC 62321, forming a structural revision and replacing Clauses 1 to 4.

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IEC 62321-6:2015 specifies one normative and two informative techniques for the determination of polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in polymers of electrotechnical products. The test methods are:
- The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS);
- The ion attachment mass spectrometry (IAMS) technique and
- The high-pressure liquid chromatography technique. This first edition of IEC 62321-6 is a partial replacement of IEC 62321:2008, forming a structural revision and generally replacing Annex A.

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IEC 62321-3-2:2013 specifies the screening analysis of the total bromine (Br) in homogeneous materials found in polymers and electronics by using the analytical technique of combustion ion chromatography (C-IC).

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IEC 62321-4:2013 describes the use of four test methods for mercury in polymers, metals and electronics, namely CV-AAS (cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry), CV-AFS (cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry) ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry), and ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) as well as several procedures for preparing the sample solution from which the most appropriate method of analysis can be selected by experts.

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    28 pages
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IEC 62321-3-1:2013 describes the screening analysis of five substances, specifically lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), total chromium (Cr) and total bromine (Br) in uniform materials found in electrotechnical products, using the analytical technique of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry.

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    43 pages
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IEC 62321-5:2013 describes the four test methods for lead, cadmium and chromium in polymers, metals and electronics, namely AAS (atomic absorption spectrometry), AFS (atomic fluorescence spectrometry), ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry), and ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) as well as several procedures for preparing the sample solution from which the most appropriate method of analysis can be selected by experts.

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IEC 62321-1:2013 refers to the sample as the object to be processed and measured. The nature of the sample and the manner in which it is acquired is defined by the entity carrying out the tests and not by this standard. It provides guidance on the disassembly procedure employed for obtaining a sample. This first edition of IEC 62321-1 is a partial replacement of IEC 62321, forming a structural revision and replacing Clauses 1 to 4.

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IEC 62321-2:2013 provides strategies of sampling along with the mechanical preparation of samples from electrotechnical products, electronic assemblies and electronic components. These samples can be used for analytical testing to determine the levels of certain substances as described in the test methods in other parts of IEC 62321. Restrictions for substances will vary between geographic regions and from time to time. This Standard describes a generic process for obtaining and preparing samples prior to the determination of any substance which are under concern.

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This European Standard specifies the technical documentation that the manufacturer needs to compile in order to declare compliance with the applicable substance restrictions. The documentation of the manufacturer’s management system is outside the scope of this European Standard.

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IEC 62321:2008, which is an International Standard, specifies the determination of the levels of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contained in inorganic and organic compounds, and two types of brominated flame retardants, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)  contained in electrotechnical products. This standard refers to the sample as the object to be processed and measured. The nature of the sample and the manner in which it is acquired is defined by the entity carrying out the tests and not by this standard. It has the status of a horizontal standard in accordance with IEC Guide 108.

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IEC 62321-2:2013 provides strategies of sampling along with the mechanical preparation of samples from electrotechnical products, electronic assemblies and electronic components. These samples can be used for analytical testing to determine the levels of certain substances as described in the test methods in other parts of IEC 62321. Restrictions for substances will vary between geographic regions and from time to time. This Standard describes a generic process for obtaining and preparing samples prior to the determination of any substance which are under concern.

  • Standard
    53 pages
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This European Standard specifies the technical documentation that the manufacturer needs to compile in order to declare compliance with the applicable substance restrictions. The documentation of the manufacturer’s management system is outside the scope of this European Standard.

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    11 pages
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IEC 62321:2008, which is an International Standard, specifies the determination of the levels of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contained in inorganic and organic compounds, and two types of brominated flame retardants, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) contained in electrotechnical products. This standard refers to the sample as the object to be processed and measured. The nature of the sample and the manner in which it is acquired is defined by the entity carrying out the tests and not by this standard. It has the status of a horizontal standard in accordance with IEC Guide 108.

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Frequently Asked Questions

An EU Directive is a legislative act of the European Union that sets out goals that all EU member states must achieve. However, it is up to each member state to devise their own laws on how to reach these goals through national transposition. Directives are used to harmonize laws across the EU, particularly for the functioning of the single market.

Directive 2011/65/EU covers "Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (recast)". This legislation has harmonized European standards (hENs) that provide a presumption of conformity with its essential requirements. There are 27 standards associated with this directive.

Harmonized standards under 2011/65/EU are European standards (ENs) developed by CEN, CENELEC, or ETSI in response to a mandate from the European Commission. When these standards are cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with them benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of 2011/65/EU, facilitating CE marking and free movement within the European Economic Area.