IPC announces release of proposed RoHS revisions.
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Press Release Summary:
The EU Commission has released the review of the RoHS Directive without any additional banned substances and, following 2 yr of lobbying by IPC, does not intend to add Tetrabromobisphenol as a monitored or restricted substance. The proposal also improves the alignment of the RoHS Directive with the REACH regulation. According to Dan Feinberg, IPC members will still urge that further substance restrictions be addressed under REACH to avoid duplication and overlapping regulations.
Original Press Release:
Proposed RoHS Revisions Released
IPC Remains Cautious Until Directive is Finalized
BANNOCKBURN, Ill., USA, December 9, 2008 - There is finally good news on the environmental regulation front. The European Union (EU) Commission has released the much anticipated review of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive without any additional banned substances. IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industries® has conducted steadfast lobbying efforts over the past two years and is pleased that the Commission does not intend to add Tetrabromobisphenol (a) (TBBPA) as an additional substance to be monitored or restricted under RoHS.
"TBBPA was found to be safe for humans and the environment by a comprehensive Risk Assessment conducted by the European Union and therefore is not expected to be restricted under the EU Restriction, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) regulation," explained Lee Wilmot, director of EHS at TTM Technologies, Inc. and chair of the IPC EHS Steering Committee. We are gratified that the Commission has decided to base their proposal on scientific findings and to more closely align the RoHS Directive and REACH regulation."
As the premier champion for the industry, IPC has been extremely active in advocating that any new RoHS regulations be based on scientifically valid evidence. Following the release of the Oko-Institut's draft report on the revision of RoHS, IPC filed comments and in June, hosted a workshop in Brussels to address industry concerns with the proposed expansion of RoHS substance restrictions.
IPC is also pleased that the proposal improves the alignment of the RoHS Directive with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. "The REACH and RoHS regulations affect the entire global supply chain and have significant implications for the success and survival of our industry," said Dan Feinberg, owner of Fein-Line Associates and chairman of IPC government relations committee. "IPC members will continue to urge that further substance restrictions be addressed under the REACH regulation in order to avoid duplicative and overlapping regulations."
"This is the first step in a lengthy legislative procedure that could see the proposals change before adoption," explained Fern Abrams, IPC director of government relations and environmental policy. "Amendments could be inserted during the next stages in the legislative process before the directive is finalized. IPC continues to be cautious and will be diligent to ensure that any proposed changes continue to be based on science."
For more information regarding the proposed RoHS revisions, visit www.ipc.org/RoHSrevisions, or contact Fern Abrams, IPC director of government relations and environmental policy at +1 703-522-0225 or fernabrams@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, China.
