IPC fights RoHS expansion proposal

23 July 2008 News

Industry leaders, representing key segments of the electronics supply chain, came together at an IPC workshop in Brussels on 18 June, to address concerns with the Öko-Institut report on the proposed expansion of RoHS substance restrictions.

Öko-Institut was contracted by the European Union Commission to study the inclusion of additional hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment under the RoHS Directive. In its draft report to the commission, the Öko-Institut recommended the restriction of Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), the flame retardant used to protect more than 80% of printed circuit boards and found to be safe by a comprehensive European Union risk assessment. In addition to TBBPA, Hexabromocylcododecanes (HBCDDs), several phthalate plasticisers and all organic compounds containing chlorine and bromine are included in the report as suggested bans.

"IPC is concerned that Öko-Institut's recommendations are arbitrary and lack a sound scientific basis. Implemented, these recommendations will have a significant negative impact on our members," explained Fern Abrams, IPC's director of government relations and environmental policy. She noted that IPC held the meeting in Brussels to make sure that all technical issues were considered by the commission when they drafted the RoHS revisions.

Attendees at the meeting included members of the European Commission and the RoHS Technical Advisory Committee from Brussels and the United Kingdom; and representatives from the European Space Agency; EU Commission consultant ERA Technology; Rockwell Collins; Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik; Philips Healthcare; Henkel; BAE Systems Platform Solutions; Lockheed Martin; Aerospace Industries Association of America; American Embassy Brussels; Avantec; Isola GmbH; and EADS.

Working with the meeting attendees, IPC is developing a 'supply chain' white paper in response to the proposed restrictions. According to a commission member, a technical response across a large section of the supply chain would be an effective method in communicating industry issues.

For more information visit www.ipc.org

Further reading:

From the editor's desk: Are we really being ripped off?
Technews Publishing News
To the surprise of many customers, installing solar panels does not always eliminate their utility bill – and in some cases, the power utility may impose additional charges on solar-powered homes.

Read more...

---

Winner of the Advanced Electronics Challenge
Avnet Silica News
Avnet Silica has named Hydronauten winner of the Advanced Electronics Challenge for breakthrough AI-driven vibration damping technology.

Read more...

---

Mouser now shipping SiLabs wireless modules
TRX Electronics News
Mouser Electronics is now shipping the new SiWx917Y wireless modules from Silicon Labs which provide ultra-low-power Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth Low Energy 5.4, and Matter connectivity.

Read more...

---

Innovative NOS software
News
NEC Corporation has made history as the first company to earn the Telecom Infra Project Phoenix Gold Badge for its innovative Network Operating System software, designed to run on whitebox optical transponders.

Read more...

---

Big welcome to new team member
Seven Labs Technology News
Seven Labs, a specialist electronics distributor and systems integrator for the South African and sub-Saharan markets, has extended a huge welcome to its newest member of the team.

Read more...

---

Hisense SA showcases local manufacturing power
News
The proudly SA summit provided an opportunity for Hisense SA to showcase its next generation products manufactured at their state-of-the-art factory in Atlantis, Western Cape.

Read more...

---

Winner of the Global Energy Efficiency award
News
Pulsiv Limited, the Cambridge (UK) manufacturer of power electronics technology, have won the PSMA’s (Power Sources Manufacturers Association) first Global Energy Efficiency Award.

Read more...

---

Direct-to-satellite phone call in SA
News
MTN SA and low-earth orbit satellite company Lynk Global have completed a successful technical trial of one of the first mobile-to-satellite phone calls in South Africa.

Read more...

---

Memory solutions for AI Edge applications
News
Mouser Electronics has announced a new eBook in collaboration with Micron exploring the importance of memory in AI edge applications.

Read more...

---

Jemstech to produce PCB assemblies for Kamstrup
Jemstech News
Jemstech is pleased to announce that they have successfully concluded a supplier agreement with Kamstrup A/S in Denmark, a leading supplier of intelligent metering solutions in the global market.

Read more...

---