Product category:
Exhibitions, Courses, Conferences and Training
News Release from: IPC
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 26 June 2008
Brussels workshop expresses RoHS
concerns
Delegates at a recent IPC workshop in Brussels expressed concern at the selection procedure for substances proposed for inclusion in future EU RoHS legislation.
Industry leaders, representing key segments of the electronics supply chain, came together at an IPC workshop in Brussels on 18th June 2008, to address industry concerns with the Oko-Institut report on the proposed expansion of RoHS substance restrictions Oko-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
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 7 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Munich show to focus on power supply segment
Power supplies and components for creating them will be a major focus for the world's largest electronics exhibition, Electronica 2008.
Development focus for Smartphone Show
The 10th annual Smartphone Show is billed as a must for anyone involved in the handset industry.
In its draft report to the commission, the Oko-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 Oko-Institut's recommendations are arbitrary and lack a sound scientific basis".
Further reading
Inventor addresses electronics show
National Electronics Week is the UK's only dedicated electronics exhibition, and will feature a keynote address from Trevor Baylis OBE.
Service makes sense of product notifications
A new subscription service aims to simplify the dissemination of PCN, EOL and other critical parts information.
"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.
Delegates at the meeting included members of the European Commission and the RoHS Technical Advisory Committee from Brussels and the UK, and representatives from European Space Agency, EU Commission consultant ERA Technology, Rockwell Collins, AT and S Austria Technologie and Systemtechnik, Philips Healthcare, Henkel, BAE Systems Platform Solutions, Lockheed Martin, Aerospace Industries Association of America, American Embassy Brussels, Avantec, Isola and EADS.
"I'm delighted IPC held this meeting".
"IPC is providing a knowledge base and a voice for companies our size, and other industry members who might not be aware of the restrictions or might feel their concerns are not being addressed", said Lamar Young, Technical Manager, Specialty Coating Systems.
Working with the meeting delegates, 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.
A copy of the agenda and the workshop presentations are available on the IPC website.
• IPC: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• Electronicstalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
