Let’s face it, the compliance space isn’t for the faint of heart. Between all the legalese and the red tape, there’s enough information out there to make your head spin — and that’s to say nothing of all the acronyms. (For instance, some might actually understand this sentence: “The SOR for our 3TGs were outside the DRC.”)
That’s a lot of complexity to contend with, but it’s also not the only problem. There are about a million online resources giving compliance advice, and while some of it is helpful, much of it is … well … not. We’re seeing a huge rise in the number of buzzwords flying around. At best, they’re unhelpful. At worst, downright counterproductive.
To help you make sense of all the noise, we invited our regulatory experts to geek out and pick the four buzzwords most likely to have them pulling out their hair. Here it goes:
#4: Conflict-Free
We’re kicking off our list with a tough one. We’d love to see products labeled “conflict-free.” Heck, it’s what gets many of our experts out of bed in the morning. But unless you are very close to the raw materials producers or can magically influence a commodities market, it may not be a realistic goal given current market conditions. So much so that making absolute statements isn’t just difficult, it can get in the way of real progress.
Look at it this way: You wouldn’t spend all day cooking with roasted peanuts and then serve food made on the same surface to a friend with a nut allergy and call it “peanut-free” just because no actual nuts went into the dish. The stakes are too high.
To make real progress, we need to focus on identifying and communicating risks. The best way to handle due diligence is to ensure that everyone in the value chain understands what makes a source risky. This approach leads to meaningful, incremental change.
We should also leverage the data we have, rather than depending solely on voluntary audit schemes to measure our success. By using a variety of available data sets, we can gain a better understanding of the origins of our materials and take control of our own outcomes.
Want some reliable information about the current conflict mineral landscape? Check out our handbook!
#3: REACH Compliance Certification
This buzzword might be voted “most likely to make our regulatory experts’ eyes twitch.” A REACH Certificate of Compliance is a document from a third-party company that confirms a product meets REACH requirements. But here’s the thing: REACH doesn’t require third-party certification.
Beyond that, REACH compliance certifications often miss the details needed for thorough checks, like sharing information about substances of very high concern (SVHC) in the supply chain.
If you’re still interested in pursuing a REACH compliance certification, by all means, go for it. But it’s a bit like watering fake plants: It’s not necessary and won’t get the job done anyway.
For more info about the REACH Regulation and your requirements, check out our handbook.
#2: EU RoHS Mark
Ah, the “EU RoHS mark.” In theory, it demonstrates to regulators that your product is RoHS compliant. The reality? It no longer exists. If you want to certify your product as RoHS compliant, you should use the Conformité Européenne marking, better known as the CE marking.
Telling a compliance expert you want an EU RoHS mark is like telling a Star Wars fan you love Spock. Or, worse yet, a Lord of the Rings fan that you cried when Dumbledore died.
Hop on our Product Compliance Product Tour to see how Assent’s solution keeps you out of hot water with sophisticated automated workflows. Save time, money, and your sanity.
#1: RoHS 3
Did you know there are 10 Fast and the Furious movies? That’s a lot of cars and explosions. We live in the age of sequels, so we can hardly fault you for losing track.
But when it comes to the RoHS Directive, we’re currently on RoHS 2, meaning the second iteration of the directive. Expanding on RoHS 1, RoHS 2 covers more products. It also requires electronics manufacturers to prepare an EU declaration of conformity and put CE markings on their finished products. (Our compliance experts have again asked us to remind you that RoHS markings no longer exist).
Some people mistakenly believe that the addition of four phthalates to the directive in 2015 constituted RoHS 3, but this change did not actually recast the directive. Will we someday recast RoHS 2 and get the long-awaited RoHS 3? If so, what changes will it bring? Who knows. Maybe Vin Diesel.
If you want some further help demystifying RoHS, be sure to read our handbook.
Conclusion
If there are two things our regulatory experts hate, it’s buzzwords and risk. If you want advice on removing both from your life, check out all the expert insights in our Content Hub.
