FYI
John Burke
(408) 515 4992
_____
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bob Landman
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 2:27 PM
To: tin whiskers forum
Subject: [tinwhiskers] IPC expresses concerns on possible ROHS revisions
http://www.edn.com/blog/690000269/post/1080028908.html?nid=3351
<http://www.edn.com/blog/690000269/post/1080028908.html?nid=3351&rid=1458594
938> &rid=1458594938
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
IPC expresses concerns on possible ROHS revisions
IPC today reported on its recent ROHS-revision focused
<http://www.ipc.org/ipcbrussels> workshop in Brussels and -- like a growing
number of electronics supply chain companies, organizations, and experts –
noted concerns with the Öko-Institut’s proposed expansion of ROHS substance
restrictions.
Öko-Institut was contracted by the European Commission to study the
inclusion of additional hazardous substances in electrical and electronic
equipment under ROHS. Right now, ROHS still stands at restricting the
original six materials: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium,
polybrominated biphenyl and polybrominated diphenyl ether.
In the Öko-Institut’s draft report to the EC, it recommended the restriction
of TBBPA (Tetrabromobisphenol A), a flame retardant used to protect more
than 80% of printed circuit boards and found to be safe by a comprehensive
European Union risk assessment, according to IPC. In addition to TBBPA,
HBCDDs (Hexabromocylcododecanes), several phthalate plasticizers, and all
organic compounds containing chlorine and bromine are included in the report
as suggested bans.
“IPC is concerned that Öko-Institut’s recommendations are arbitrary and lack
a sound scientific basis. Implemented, these recommendations will have a
significant negative impact on our members,” Fern Abrams, IPC’s director of
government relations and environmental policy, said in the organization’s
statement today.
IPC isn’t alone in its concerns. Newark’s Gary Nevison recently contributed
a Critical Links <http://www.edn.com/blog/570000257.html> blog to EDN on
the banning of flame retardants and the harmful affect doing so could have.
In “Flame retardants
<http://www.edn.com/blog/570000257/post/1740027974.html> ignite
controversy,” Nevison questioned the risk-benefit balance based on
assessments of the ROHS directive. He, like Abrams, has also expressed
concerns over the Öko-Institut’s practices and wonders if the EC is keeping
immediate human safety, like that from electronics fires, in mind when
setting its regulations.
Abrams, who I recently interviewed on this topic, 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.
Attendees at the IPC meeting included members of the EC and the ROHS
Technical Advisory Committee from Brussels and the United Kingdom; and
representatives from European Space Agency; EU Commission consultant ERA
Technology; Rockwell Collins; AT&S (Austria Technologies & Systemtechnik);
Philips Healthcare; Henkel; BAE Systems Platform Solutions; Lockheed Martin;
Aerospace Industries Association of America; American Embassy Brussels;
Avantec; Isola GmbH; and EADS.
IPC said that it is working with the meeting attendees to develop a white
paper in response to the proposed restrictions.
---------------------------------------------------
Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet
To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL)
To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest
Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815
-----------------------------------------------------
|
