IPC to Present Webinars on Proposed RoHS Revisions

With proposed revisions to the EU RoHS Directive recently released, IPC—Association Connecting Electronics Industries, in conjunction with ENVIRON, presents Proposed Changes to the RoHS Directive: the Impact on Manufacturers and Importers. This webinar will be held for non EU based companies on Thursday, January 29, 2009 from 10:00 to 11:00 am (CST) and for EU based companies on February 12, 2009, 3:00 pm (CET). These programs will provide electronics manufacturers with essential information on the proposed revisions, how their companies will be affected, and what they can do at this time.

Aidan Turnbull, PhD, Principal of ENVIRON, an environmental consulting firm and operator of the www.Bomcheck.net Web database for RoHS and REACH compliance, is the guest speaker. The key issues to be covered during the webinar are: additional substances to be considered for restriction under RoHS including possible re-introduction of proposals to restrict Tetrabromobisphenol (a) (TBBPA), a reactive flame retardant used in more than 80 percent of printed circuit boards; changes to the exemptions policy; new conformity assessment and product marking and labeling requirements; and strategies to affect the outcome of a revised RoHS Directive.

"Our goal is to clarify and disseminate the information to companies so they can prepare for changes that lie ahead. EU chemical regulations can be daunting and we are confident this webinar will help clear up some confusion,” says Turnbull. "The proposed revisions will place increasing challenges on manufacturers and importers and becoming knowledgeable will only help to be proactive in minimizing the impact of RoHS on businesses.”

IPC said it has and will continue to make the electronics industry’s interests and needs known to the EU Parliament and Council of Ministers through extensive and aggressive lobbying, but looks to informed industry leaders to lend their support. The comments and concerns of all facets of the supply chain will shape IPC’s ongoing lobbying efforts.

"Although the proposed revisions represent a significant improvement over previous recommendations, it is crucial for the electronics industry to continue to voice its concerns,” says Fern Abrams, IPC Director of Government Relations and Environmental Policy.

To register for the January webinar, visit www.ipc.org/rohs-webinar-0109.

The focus of the second webinar will be slightly different since EU based facilities can have a more direct influence on the EU government. To register for the February webinar, visit www.ipc.org/rohs-webinar-0209.

For further details regarding the webinars, contact Stephanie Castorina, IPC Manager of Environmental Programs, at StephanieCastorina@ipc.org.

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