...Presentation subjects include cleaner design principles for both products and packaging, as well as an update on existing and future legislation. Product designers and manufacturers can obtain expert advice on cleaner and more efficient product design - as well as an update on the latest legislative news - at a series of free Envirowise workshops in 2008.... more...

...Don't get too comfortable with your European Union (EU) Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) standing, as the directive is set to be adjusted in 2008 to reflect additional substances and changes to exemptions. ROHS is currently under a scheduled review as required by Article 6 of the directive. As such, the European Commission is examining its current 29 exemptions, plus an additional 7 requested exemptions; categories 8 and 9 of the directive, which include effects of materials on medical devices and monitoring and control instruments; and some definitions within the directive as to what products are impacted.... more...

...Figures have been released by the DBERR (Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform), showing the progress made during the initial compliance period under the 2006 WEEE regulations. In addition new regulations modifying the earlier regulations have been issued, which come into effect from 1 January.... more...

...Association Connecting Electronics Industries released highlights for its IPC Printed Circuits Expo/APEX/Designers Summit, April 1-3, 2008, in Las Vegas. The show includes a conference, free forums, standards development meetings, professional development courses, and exhibit floor. Patrice Rolett, GM, Avantec Europe, will co-host the opening session with Huang Jianzhong, director of the Bureau of Economy System Reform & Economy Operation, Ministry of Information Industry (MII), China. Huang and Rolett will speak about REACH regulations and the requirements of China RoHS, topics that resonate throughout the week's technical sessions.... more...

...With new regulations and new business cases, the chemicals supply chain continues to adapt in an increasingly global market.... more...

...The government has amended the WEEE Regulations to improve the way producer responsibility system works for waste electrical and electronic equipment. But with trading of WEEE evidence via the Settlement Centre now set to begin on December 18, recyclers have warned that even with the amended legislation, problems with the evidence system remain.... more...

...BANGALORE: India generated 3.3 lakh tonnes of e-waste in 2007 as dumping from developed countries and informal recycling added to environmental degradation, a new study released on Thursday revealed. E-waste is expected to touch 4.7 lakh tonnes in India by 2011, according to the study unveiled by MAIT, the apex body representing India's IT hardware, training and R&D services sectors, together with GTZ, the German Technical Cooperation Agency.... more...

...Intertek (www.intertek-rohs.com), the world leading third party testing and inspection service, successfully hosted the "Global RoHS Enforcement International Forum" in Shanghai and Taiwan on November 16 and 19, 2007 focusing on emerging information regarding the enforcement of EU RoHS, China RoHS, Korea RoHS (comprising WEEE-, RoHS-, and ELV-type requirements) and Taiwan Green Mark Certification.... more...

...A survey released today by the European Recycling Platform shows that the British public is failing to respond to new legislation designed to promote electrical waste recycling and, while there may be a mountain of electrical goodies under the tree this Christmas, there could be a mountain of waste afterwards.... more...

...The UK is meeting its waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) collection targets, according to provisional figures from the Environment Agency. Since the new scheme came into effect on July 1st, there has been a collection of 6.25 kilogram of WEEE collected per capita per year, while the WEEE directive set a four kilogram target.... more...

...Data Clean Corporation now offers a self-administered Tin Whisker test kit to help identify the presence of Tin Whiskers. The Tin Whisker test kit is a natural extension of product offerings from Data Clean, a known specialist in Zinc Whisker identification and remediation.... more...

...The purpose of this study was to investigate the suitability of using XRF systems for screening electronics parts in two applications; RoHS compliance and tin whisker mitigation. In total, fifteen systems were tested with a range of forty typical electronics components and assemblies. Eleven different systems were evaluated at twelve different sites. Systems based on PIN, SiLi and proportional counter detectors were included. Eleven systems were bench top instruments and four were portable.... more...

...SinoApps, the first provider of online China RoHS application for manufacturers, today announced its service has been reviewed and recommended by RoHSwell.com - the popular authoritative Web site which provides news, tips, and tools for RoHS/WEEE, China RoHS and other green initiative requirements.... more...

...The Bromine Science and Environmental Forum (BSEF) is turning the tables on Greenpeace, questioning the environmental group's comments on the use of brominated flame retardants (BFR) in electronics. Greenpeace has been targeting electronics manufacturers that use BFRs for fire prevention in their products, including Apple and Microsoft. BSEF claims that such targeting, however, is irresponsible as BFRs discourage the fire danger electronics can pose if they overheat.... more...

...The battle to persuade the government to shoulder some of the cost of old IT equipment disposal has taken a turn in the channel's favour. In July, the Independent Trade Association of Computing Specialists (Itacs) kicked off a campaign to get the government to allow small VARs and system builders to take their old IT kit to local civic amenity sites.... more...

...The impact, effectiveness and credibility of the WEEE Directive is being undermined by rogue traders illegally exporting untreated WEEE to countries outside the EU.... more...

...The government has today announced the creation of an advisory board on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations. The WEEE Advisory Board (WAB) consists of 13 individuals from various industry sectors and will provide independent advice on the development of the WEEE system. Representing the IT industry is Kirstie McIntyre, environmental takeback compliance manager at HP; Joy Boyce, head of corporate environmental affairs at Fujitsu Services; and Terry Maguire, chairman and managing director at Computer Remarketing Services.... more...

...Intertek Ageus Solutions is pleased to host a free online Korea RoHS webinar on December 12th, 2007 to address the questions and concerns of manufacturers and importers of electronics and electrical equipment (EEE) with regard to Korea's Act for Resource Recycling of Electronic Equipment (Korea RoHS).... more...

...Provisional figures from the Environment Agency suggest the UK is meeting its European targets for the collection of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from households.... more...

...The Settlement Centre for co-ordinating recycling evidence under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations has gone live. Run by Glaswegian IT firm Real Time Engineering, the Centre is an online facility for those collecting, treating and recycling WEEE to record the electronics they have recycled. It ultimately allows manufacturers and importers to show that they have carried out their producer responsibility to recycle WEEE.... more...

...AIM has acquired the right to now sell SN100C solder paste and cored wire solder globally. SN100C offers broad process windows and benefits such as excellent flow, low voiding in SMT BGA and QFN devices, bright, shiny and smooth solder joints similar to tin-lead. Additionally, SN100C is more resistant to lead contamination reliability issues than SAC alloys.... more...

...'Act instead of reacting', urges the German Fachverband der Bauelemente Distribution eV (FBDi eV), taking up a stance towards the new REACH chemicals regulation. . . Directly affected by this regulation are also stakeholders further down the supply chain along with companies that import products made from such substances from non-EU states both within and outside Europe. As such, REACH also affects to varying degrees the distributors of electronic components.... more...

...A National Physical Laboratory investigation into the suitability of XRF systems for screening electronics parts found PIN (semiconductor diode) and SiLi detector-based systems suitable for RoHS compliance measurements in plastics and solders, but proportional counter based systems are not.... more...

...SinoApps has created a unique new suite of powerful services that simplify the job of complying with China RoHS. Using their online system, you can submit product data, download a declaration report translated into Simplified Chinese and manage supplier compliance reports.... more...