China’s Newly Announced RoHS-Type Regulations to be Discussed at Upcoming IPC Green Conference

On October 9, 2009, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released its initial list, or Catalogue, of products subject to lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, mercury, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) restrictions. The new restrictions, along with the criteria for future products to be added to the catalogue, will be discussed in detail at IPC’s “It’s Not Easy Being Green: Complying with Global Environmental Regulation” conference, November 10, 2009 in Irvine, California, USA.

Tad Ferris, partner at Holland & Knight, will offer key insights on issues such as expected mandatory premarket certification and required laboratory analysis. With more than 15 years of experience working with Chinese government agencies, multinational corporations and multilateral institutions through Holland & Knight’s Beijing office, Ferris is said to be uniquely positioned to discuss this important topic.

In addition to covering recent changes to China’s regulations, the conference will feature an up-to-date read on European Union (EU) deliberations on the recast of the original Restriction of Hazardous Substance (RoHS). Steve Andrews, the United Kingdom’s representative to the EU’s RoHS Technical Advisory Committee, will lead off the conference with an insider’s view of the debate in the EU Council and Parliament. “Not merely interesting politics, the issues being debated this year could have a substantial impact on the global electronics industry,” said Fern Abrams, IPC director of government relations and environmental policy. “The green nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are continuing to push for additional substance restrictions and compulsory testing and labeling under the CE mark,” she added.

Presentations by key industry experts will offer critical updates on global environmental regulations and trends, including Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), and California’s recently proposed Green Chemistry Policy. Afternoon highlights include halogen-free electronics, conflict metals restrictions and the tools available to help companies measure their eco-environmental impact.

For attendees wanting more in-depth information on REACH, an afternoon workshop on November 9 will offer a primer on the European Union’s regulation. Lead by Michael Kirschner, President of Design Chain Associates, this workshop will serve as an introduction and background to the REACH update being presented during the full day technical conference the following day.

A companion Materials Conference on November 11 will feature comprehensive sessions examining performance and reliability issues related to halogen free laminate and lead free alloys.

For more information on IPC’s “Its Not Easy Being Green” conference or the Materials conference, visit www.IPC.org/Compliance-Materials-Conference. To register, go to www.IPC.org/Compliance-Materials-Register.

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