|
|
|
|
| |
 |
European Union's RoHS
Directive
|
|
|
|
The
Restriction
of the use of Certain Hazardous substances (RoHS) Directive
is complementary to European Union’s Waste
Electrical and Electronics Equipment (WEEE) Directive.
It was introduced to restrict the use of hazardous substances
in electrical and electronic equipment, and to enhance environmentally
sound recovery and disposal of WEEE
The
RoHS Directive states that even if all waste electrical
and electronic equipment were collected separately and recycled,
its toxic content would pose risks to health and the environment.
It calls for the substitution of hazardous substances with
safer materials, which it notes is likely to both increase
the profitability of recycling this waste and reduce the
health impacts on workers at recycling plants.
As
(RoHS) directive sets product standards for electrical and
electronic equipment it is a “Single Market”
Directive |
|
|
|
|
|
Substances that are banned under RoHS Directive
|
|
|
| |
Lead
(Pb)-some exemptions are permitted |
|
| |
Mercury
(Hg)-permitted in certain type of lamps |
| |
Cadmium
(Cd)- exempted for electroplated coatings |
| |
Hexavalent
Chromium (CrVI)-Chromium is only banned in
the hexavalent form and chromium metal and trivalent
chromium are not restricted.
|
| |
Polybrominated
biphenyl ethers (PBB)-PBB was used as a flame
retardant in plastics but PBB is no longer produced
but some may be present in recycled plastics |
|
|
|
Exemptions under RoHS
Directive
|
| |
Mercury
|
| |
Mercury
in compact fluorescent lamps not
> 5 mg per lamp |
| |
Mercury
in straight fluorescent lamps for
general & special purposes
|
| Lead |
| |
Lead
in glass of CRTs, electronic components
& fluorescent tubes. |
| |
Lead
as an alloying element in steel containing
up to 0.35% lead by weight, in Al
up to 0.4%lead by weight, in Cu up
to 4%lead by weight |
| |
Lead
in high melting temperature type solders |
| |
Lead
in solders for servers, storage
and storage array systems and in
solders for network infrastructure
equipment |
| |
Lead
in electronic ceramic parts |
| Cadmium |
| |
Cadmium
plating (cadmium & its compounds
in electrical contacts*) |
| Chromium |
| |
Cr+6
as an anti-corrosion of the carbon
steel cooling system in absorption
refrigerators |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposed new exemptions
|
| |
1.
|
“compliant pin VHDM connector systems”,
|
|
2.
|
“lead as a coating material for the
TCM C-ring”,
|
|
3.
|
“lead and cadmium in optical and filter
glass”,
|
|
4.
|
“optical transceivers for industrial
applications”,
|
|
5.
|
“lead in solders consisting of more
than 2 elements for the connection between
the pins & the package of microprocessors
|
|
6.
|
“lead in high melting temperature
type solders
|
|
7.
|
“lead in solders to complete a viable
electrical connection internal to certain
integrated circuit packages*
|
|
8.
|
“safety equipment for fire and rescue
services”
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
1
July 2006- new electrical and electronic equipment put
on the market does not contain lead, mercury, cadmium,
hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl ethers
and polybrominated diphenyl ethers |
|
|
|
Who does this effect, and how?
|
European
(EU) Manufacturers
The source of the problem regarding the dumping of hazardous
substances found in electrical & electronics components
are, ultimately, the manufacturers. They decide which materials
are used in the final products, and therefore they will
be the most affected by ROHS.
All manufacturers of electrical and electronic products
in the EU will have to comply with the ROHS Directive as
and when required.
•
Current EU Member States
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, UK, Finland, Greece,
Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden.
• Joined in May 2004
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic, Slovenia.
• Hope to join in 2007
Bulgaria,
Romania.
|
|
 |
Non-European
(EU) Manufacturers
Many companies who operate and manufacture outside Europe,
will still eventually sell their goods inside the EU. Many
EU-member states are massive export markets for both Asian
and American companies. As such these companies have to make
all the products that they export to the EU, compliant with
the EU ROHS Directive.
So who must ensure compliance when importing / exporting
to the EU?
Anybody producing products that are not compliant with ROHS,
and who then attempts to sell then on the EU market after
the compliance deadline, will be in breach of the EU ROHS
Directive.
Furthermore, it is ultimately the responsibility of the agent
who introduces the goods into the EU, to meet all of the necessary
requirements. Therefore even if you are selling non-compliant
products under a different brand name, it will still be your
responsibility to ensure compliance if you wish to sell them
in EU counties.
Non EU Countries
Asian countries such as India, China and Thailand have significant
manufacturing interests in the electronics, electrical and
home appliances sectors. Companies in these countries now
face a growing number and range of customer enquiries covering
compliance with environmental laws and CSR issues and specifically
on product-related issues such as eco-design, materials reduction,
energy efficiency, reduced toxicity and recyclability.
|
|
|
Major challenges for the
supply chain
|
|
|
|
| |
Timely and relevant information
|
| |
|
Lack of awareness
of environmental legislation and CSR
developments in European countries, Japan and the US.
For example, there is a fear that with limited time
to the enforcement of the EC’s RoHS Directive
(July 2006) many suppliers maybe ignorant of implications
of the law. This will pose enormous information management
issues for companies at both the top and throughout
the supply chain. |
|
|
Major
uncertainty has been created as a result of the differing
national transposition dates of the EC’s WEEE
Directive in each member state. |
|
|
Lack
of timely, accurate and clear information on new EC
legal developments and the implications related to,
for example, WEEE, RoHS, EuP
and REACH.
|
|
|
|
Supply
chain issues
|
| |
|
If transnational companies perceive there to be risks
in their supply chain, they may switch to larger suppliers
who are seen to be more reliable, creating a threat
of lost business to SME suppliers. For example, the
requirements for lead-free supply chains (or networks)
may result in a number of SMEs being phased out of supply
chains (or networks), if they are unable to provide
solutions by target dates.
|
| |
|
Customer’s
green procurement requirements will necessitate production
and personnel changes amongst suppliers. For example,
whole manufacturing processes will need to be changed,
as it will not be possible to make just one product
lead or cadmium-free. To achieve this requires time,
learning and innovation throughout the entire supply
chain (or network). This is exacerbated by each tier
in the supply chain (or network) having different production
techniques and quality control processes and requiring
different levels of specialized training and knowledge
transfer.
. |
| |
|
There
will be a need to integrate customer’s environmental
requirements into existing quality management systems
(ISO9000) and manufacturing processes. For example,
suppliers may need to develop RoHS
compliance systems and in the future EuP (eco-design)
management systems. A rushed approach to integration
is likely to cause significant organizational and technical
problems.
|
|
|
|
|
Training and education needs
|
| |
|
There
is a need for focused education and training inside
and outside the firm to meet the requirements of, for
example, the RoHS, WEEE and EuP Directives.
|
| |
|
Eco-design
training programmes and tools will need to be produced
in national languages. |
| |
|
Many SMEs
in Asian countries are disconnected from trade associations
– therefore SMEs will also need to be targeted
directly. |
|
|
 |
|
|
.
|
1st EU-INDIA Industrial Conference on
Energy
New Delhi - 6th April, 2006
Mr Pielbalgs, the European Commissioner
in charge of Energy and his Indian counterpart
opened the first EU-India Industrial
Conference on Energy which took place
in Delhi on the 6th of April 2006. High
level representatives from industry
and public administration were invited
to further intensify the bilateral relations
in the field of energy. Main issues
to be discussed were the security of
energy supply, the promotion of renewable
energy and energy efficiency, the interactions
between energy policy and research,
environmental policies and the investment
climate. Two important areas to be covered
were the mutual market access for European
and Indian firms in the energy sector
and the energy market reforms
|
|
|
For
more information visit
|
|
|
EU-India Economic co-operation
The
EU-India Joint Action Plan, adopted
during the 6th EU-India Summit in New
Delhi, on September 7, 2005, seeks to
enhance economic co-operation between
the EU and India in a number of areas
where both parties have mutual interests.
A broad range of sectors are envisaged
under which EU-India co-operation will
be broadened and enhanced: Trade, Transport,
Environment, Energy, Science and Technology,
Space Technology, Information and Communication
Technologies, Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology,
Industrial Policy, Customs Co-operation,
Dialogue on Economic and Financial Matters,
Employment and Social Policy, Agriculture
and Business Dialogue & Co-operation.
For
more information
visit
|
| |
India-EU meeting on computational materials
science
An India-EU meeting on computational
materials science took place in Bangalore,
India, 20-22 February 2006.
The purpose of the meeting was to achieve
an overview of research activities in
computational materials science area
in India and Europe, and to provide
a platform for networking, match-making
and the building of contacts between
Indian and European researchers drawn
from various academic institutions.
The meeting will address the topics
of:
• plasticity, dislocations and
mechanical behaviour
• dynamics
• multi-scale modelling of materials
• electronic structure/atomistics
• nano-materials and surfaces
• molecular materials
|
| |
For more information visit
|
| |
|
RoHS Directive
- Implications for Designers
Premier EDA Solutions is to hold
a technology seminar to provide
essential skills for designers
impacted by the RoHS Directive.
Countering the view that the impact
of the RoHS Directive on product
design is minimal, Premier EDA
intends to give delegates a correct
understanding of the true implications
of the RoHS directive on their
design and share design optimisation
techniques that will bring advantages
during the manufacturing process.
It will highlight the availability
of design standards that will
help consistency and trouble-free
footprint design, evaluate the
impact on board materials and
look to the future where there
is a promise of even more legislation
that will impact on electronic
product design.
Livingston,
Scotland (3rd May 2006)
Bristol,
UK (17th May 2006)
For more information
and to register,
visit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disclaimer
Contact
Address
Asian Centre for European Environmental
Policy Research: 301, Samved Sankul, Plot No. 2 Temple Road, Civil Lines
Nagpur - 440001, INDIA
Note: webpage can be best viewed in 1024 by 768 pixels
|
|
home
