There are many confusing aspects to the definition and implementation. The
Japanese so far have mislabeled their "lead-free" products but it works for them
as a marketing ploy.  In reality, the initiatives are all good but the absolute
requirements (if there are any), of 0%, are unreasonable and too costly to be of
a system level value ------- I can't believe that the laws don't set an
objective of 0.5% - 1% by total product weight perhaps instead of "lead-free".
The use of Sn-Bi for instance drives extraction of more Pb from the mines and
leaves more exposed lead??? Politics and lobbies not withtanding we needed to
fight back more!

John Lynch
Program Director Pb-Free
ON Semiconductor

Ola Hassan wrote:

> Gentlemen,
>
> Could somebody define lead-free for me in the actual sense of
> implementation. Are we talking about lead-free process or lead-free product.
> There are some products like CD ROM, Diskdrives, Minidisk players that has
> many parts with some element of lead in them such as components electrodes,
> components thinning, BGAs, flexcircuit assemblies, motor coils etc. If the
> answer to both of my questions constitutes lead-free, how many percentage of
> lead are you suppose to have on a given product before they are labeled
> lead-free?.
>
> Did anybody know if all the products now being labeled as lead-free in Japan
> because of the lead-free solder are really lead free products even if a
> single component or part has lead in it?.
>
> According to the current information I have on this issue, some component
> manufacturers in the US are still looking towards lead-free component
> availability by 2005.
>
> It is advisable for the industry to create a separate organization to limit
> the abuse of the lead-free label for marketing purposes if in fact the
> reason for the legislation is to completely eliminate lead in the process
> and the product.
>
> I will appreciate any information I can obtain on this issue. Please send
> your comment to me at
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Regards,
>
> Ola Hassan
>
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