Stringent new rules banning metals such as lead and mercury from electronic products sold in the 25-nation European Union (EU) come into force on Saturday, in a move the EU says is being watched by China and other nations.

The rules, which were adopted in 2003, ban six substances including lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium from use in products from personal computers to cell phones to automated toys.

The other banned substances are groups of flame retardants called polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).

"Ending the use of these hazardous substances in many e- products not only removes the intrinsic hazard they pose but will also enable us to considerably increase the amount of waste equipment that is recycled by making this activity safer and also less costly," Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said in a statement.

"I welcome China's plans to follow Europe's example and would encourage other countries to do likewise," Dimas said.

The negative health and environmental effects from such substances are wide, the EC said. Lead and mercury can hurt people 's brains and nervous systems, while brominated flame retardants can hurt reproductive systems and may cause tumors.

Thousands of products that use electricity would be covered by the ban, which Japan and South Korea in addition to China were also considering implementing, the statement said.

Source: Xinhua