Hi everyone Given Dave Seymour's comment in an earlier posting - "I'm not worried, all the chems involved were RoHS compliant" - and the pictures he linked to, today might be just the day to ask for some wider thoughts on a similar theme! "REACH . . . has been described as "the most important EU legislation for 20 years". And it is coming up fast . . . the Council reached a "Common Position" on 27 June, and the Directive is predicted to be in place by the end of 2006, which means it will be in effect within two years." That is how I started a blog in August (http://www.mtarr.co.uk/blog/?p=22), stimulated by comments from John Burke, among others. What I have now been asked to do is present a short paper to an upcoming local SMART chapter meeting on "Forthcoming EU regulations", where I need to talk intelligently on subjects such as REACH and EuP. Obviously, I can read what officialdom says should happen. But then I also know what a mess we are in with lead-free! * Are these new cans of worms? * Will we be forced to use non-preferred ways of doing things simply because the materials are old enough to be allowed under the legislation? * Will there be unintended consequences, equivalent to the extra energy use and other adverse environmental consequences of lead-free solders? * Will some chemicals simply be withdrawn from the EU market? I'd welcome your thoughts, either private or public, so have started a wiki at http://mtarr2006env.pbwiki.com/FrontPage with linked pages on the two main Directives (REACH http://mtarr2006env.pbwiki.com/REACH and EuP http://mtarr2006env.pbwiki.com/EuP). Or you can post contributions on this thread, or send them direct to me at [log in to unmask] So do let me know how REACH and EuP will affect you and your company . . . Thanks for your help. Martin ************************* Martin Tarr Martin Tarr Associates Limited 1 Methven Drive DUNFERMLINE Fife KY12 0AH [log in to unmask] +44 (0)1383 723989 phone Skype Name: martin.tarr +44 (0)709 233 3181 fax +44 (0)7831 550192 mobile --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e 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 -----------------------------------------------------