Dane Mills is managing director of Flex-ability, a flex circuit manufacturer in Hartlepool, England

Article Type: Industry news From: Circuit World, Volume 34, Issue 4

IPC have announced a new white paper, The electronic interconnection industry supply chain’s response to the Öko-Institut Recommendations for Proposed Revisions to the RoHS Directive.

The white paper is the culmination of presentations made during an IPC workshop on 18 June 2008, in Brussels. Industry leaders, representing key segments of the electronics supply chain, came together at the workshop to detail industry concerns with the Öko-Institut report on the proposed expansion of RoHS substance restrictions.

As an example, in their draft report to the European Commission, the Öko-Institut recommended the restriction of Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), the flame retardant used to protect more than 80 per cent of PCBs and found to be safe by a comprehensive EU risk assessment. In addition to TBBPA,Hexabromocylcododecanes, several phthalate plasticizers, and all organic compounds containing chlorine and bromine, are identified in the report as suggested bans.

“The white paper has a long title for what is essentially a point by point summary of technical issues not addressed by the Öko-Institut report to the EU,” explained Fern Abrams, IPC’s director of government relations and environmental policy. “It is important that the commissioners understand the Öko-Institut recommendations are arbitrary,lack a sound scientific basis and would have a significant negative impact on our members”.

As part of its ongoing advocacy efforts on behalf of its members, IPC will share the white paper with EU commissioners and other key decision makers. The white paper is on available for free download from IPC’s web site at: www.ipc.org/EHS