Intertek's whitepaper, What You Need to Know About QC 080000, will introduce you to the specification's history and purpose, the process of third-party certification, and the link to ISO 9001. Download now!

Meeting the challenge

Manufacturers of electrical and electronic products and components now face a myriad of environmental protection (EP) regulations across the globe. To be in compliance with various global EP directives - such as RoHS, WEEE, REACH, "China RoHS," California's Proposition 65, and many others still being developed - manufacturers must conform to strict standards, provide extensive compliance documentation, and ensure that their products do not contain hazardous substances. If manufacturers do not properly plan for these regulations, it can easily translate into added costs and delays.

With the QC 080000 standard, your organization can implement a Hazardous Substance Process Management (HSPM) system and cover the key requirements of the various EP directives by using a single document. This specification was developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), a non-governmental organization that has been in close cooperation with ISO in developing standards.

Your organization can realize many benefits when it is in compliance with QC 080000, such as:

• Enhanced competitive advantage
  In certain countries or regions, manufacturers of electrical or electronic products are held directly responsible for the chemical compliance of their products. This means that if a product contains any hazardous substances, it cannot be legally sold to consumers in those areas. Manufacturers in compliance with QC 080000 will enjoy greater access to the markets which have imposed these restrictions.
  
  
• Reduced testing and certification costs
  Instead of the product testing approach commonly used in the past, QC 080000 introduces a more cost-effective process approach to prove conformity with global hazardous substance control directives and customer-specific requirements. Additionally, since conformity with ISO 9001 is a prerequisite for QC 080000, you will not need to add extra audit days to earn or maintain certification to ISO 9001.
  
  
• Improved corporate identity
  Certification demonstrates to your customers, employees, and shareholders that your organization is committed to environmental protection and the control of hazardous substances.
  

Intertek has been approved by the Electronic Components Certification Board (ECCB) to issue IEC-recognized certification to QC 080000. Our auditors' expertise and responsiveness help our customers to verify that their HSPM systems are effective and can resolve the challenges and bottlenecks brought by the responsibility of environmental protection.

Intertek: Your total solution
Intertek, a global leader in testing, certification, inspection and risk management, works with advisory teams and local experts to develop innovative solutions for organizations across the globe. We do more than help our clients comply - we give them a competitive advantage.

We provide a "one stop shop" with global laboratory coverage of materials and components certification, supplier compliance audits, quality system audits, and a 24-hour-a-day monitoring system for our clients and their affiliated suppliers. Visit www.intertek.com/rohs for more information on our product testing and certification services.

Intertek also supports its customers' Hazardous or Restricted Substances processes outside of the electronics industry. Our Restricted Substances Compliance Management System (RSCMS) program addresses any banned substance in any industry, from toys to textiles to cosmetics.