Symposium addresses electronics and environment.

Press Release Summary:



To help bring companies up-to-date with recent revisions to regulations, along with proposed changes to take effect in 2009, IPC will host symposium titled "It's Not Easy Being Green: Compliance with Legislation and Customer Requirements." Two-day event will focus on REACH compliance, updated information on RoHS review process, China RoHS and process for including electronic products in catalog of items subject to substance restrictions, and environmental regulatory trends in California.



Original Press Release:



IPC Environmental Symposium Addresses Recent Revisions To Regulations And Strategies To Achieve Compliance



BANNOCKBURN, Ill., USA, January 7, 2009 - The past year has brought a whirlwind of change to the electronic interconnect supply chain, presenting new and ever-evolving environmental laws and requirements that profoundly affect all facets of the industry, from design, purchasing, manufacturing to marketing. To help bring companies up-to-date with the most recent revisions to regulations, along with proposed changes to take effect in 2009, IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industries® will host a symposium on electronics and the environment, "It's Not Easy Being Green: Compliance with Legislation and Customer Requirements," February 4-5, 2009, at the Wyndham San Jose, San Jose, Calif.

"In the just the last few months, a revision of RoHS was proposed by the European Commission, California passed and signed Green Chemistry legislation, and the European Chemical Agency released fifteen candidates for the Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) list under REACH. This has created a pressing need for a forum to accurately disseminate and clarify the new information," said Fern Abrams, IPC director of government relations and environmental policy. "Even since the symposium last year, so much has changed. It is vital for companies to stay ahead of the game in order to adequately prepare for compliance and meet customer expectations."

To help companies avoid disruption of their businesses, the two-day symposium will focus on critical new laws, regulations and requirements, including Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) compliance for electronics manufacturers and their suppliers located inside and outside the EU; updated information on the European Union's RoHS review process, including changes in scope, recommendations for the inclusion of medical and monitoring equipment, and the addition of new substance requirements; China RoHS and the process for including electronic products in the catalogue of items subject to substance restrictions; and environmental regulatory trends in California that may impact business inside and outside of California, including green chemistry, e-waste and energy efficiency.

The keynote address featuring Joe Johnson, senior manager of environmental affairs with CISCO Systems, will provide insight into CISCO's plans for environmental and product compliance. Other symposium highlights new for this year include a look into new OEM and top tier EMS commitments to corporate social responsibility; a system compliance panel presentation examining new software products designed to help track supply chain compliance with RoHS and REACH substance restrictions; an overview of OEM supply chain requirements for low-halogen electronics, including the upcoming J-STD-709, Definition of Maximum Limits on the Low-Halogens Bromine & Chlorine Used in Materials for Certain Electronic Components and Assemblies; and the results of the EPA Design for the Environment study on halogen-free flame retardants for printed circuit boards.

For more information on the symposium or to register, visit ipc.org/NotEasyBeingGreen or contact IPC registration staff at +1 847-597-2861 or registration@ipc.org.

About IPC

IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global trade association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 2,700 member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $1.5 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Arlington, Va.; Garden Grove, Calif.; Stockholm, Sweden; and Shanghai and Shenzhen, China.

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