From the European Union website:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/registre/recherche/NoticeDetaillee.cfm?docid=1608
39&doclang=EN

 E-3488/05EN
Answer given by Mr Dimas
on behalf of the Commission
(11.11.2005)

The objective of the measures identified in the Honourable Member's question
is to substitute harmful substances for humans and the environment with
suitable replacements where these exist.

The Commission is aware that the substitution of lead in electrical and
electronic equipment may have led companies to invest in new technologies
with greater energy use. However, if companies can prove that the
elimination or substitution of the banned substances via design changes or
the use of alternative materials and components causes negative
environmental, health and or consumer safety impacts, and that these
outweigh the environmental benefits of ceasing to use the banned substances,
an exemption can be granted. So far, only one company has asked for an
exemption on these grounds. All the other exemption requests are based on
either the lack of suitable substitutes or for cost reasons, which cannot be
considered under the RoHS Directive .
===========

This seems to say that if the alternative to lead is much more costly, too
bad.

BUT: if the alternative can be shown to be detrimental to the environment
and/or consumer safety, it is possible to get an exemption.
Looks like based on what I read one can prove both sets of problems. So how
come only one company has gone for that kind of exemption? How about getting
an exemption for the US electronic assembly industry?

(You have done a great job of getting a lot of information together in a
single place.)

Have fun,
Ahne.



-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Burke
Sent: Friday, 28 April, 2006 11:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] NTC Get the Lead Out

Wow I guess I really did say that huh.......................

John

-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stephen Pierce
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 10:46 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [TN] NTC Get the Lead Out

http://www.worldmag.com/articles/11798

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