IPC calling for input into RoHS expansion

The Association Connecting Electronics Industries (IPC) is asking technical experts in the electronics industry to participate in a special meeting on June 18 in Brussels to discuss their concerns about a proposed RoHS expansion. Plans call for representatives of the European Union to attend the meeting.

In a letter sent to its members last month, IPC detailed its concerns about the Draft Report issued by the Oko Institute, the organization retained by the EU Commission to study the inclusion of additional substance restrictions in the RoHS directive. IPC believe the Institute’s methodologies are biased and flawed.

IPC notes that in its letter to its membership revealed that the Institute staff denied IPC permission to attend a workshop it held for discussion of the report due to the fact that only “scientific experts were invited.” IPC contends that the Institute clearly disregarded the technical expertise within IPC and its membership and that the Institute has expanded the scope of RoHS beyond the EU Commission’s original intent. “This sends concerns throughout the industry that scientific evidence is not driving the basis of the report,” said an IPC statement.

Technical experts and other interested parties should RSVP for IPC’s special meeting at IPC’s site. For more info, contact Fern Abrams at fernabrams@ipc.org.