Compromise on ROHS recast reached
Compromise was the name of the game at the final trialogue meeting on the proposed ROHS recast.On the “open scope” issue (a product Category 11 would cover all electrical and electronic equipment not captured in Categories 1 to 10 unless specifically excluded) a compromise was reached with all products being covered eight years after entry into force.
Some Member States were opposed to an open scope, certainly without a full risk assessment, while Members of the European Parliament (MEP) had called for the scope to be opened in three and a half years.
With this in mind, there will be no early resolution, for example, to the on-going debate around the status of semiconductor development tools and evaluation boards that do not fit into any of the eight current categories. At the final trialogue meeting of the European Parliament, European Commission and Council of Ministers, MEPs agreed to drop demands for a list of priority substances that would have potentially lead to future bans. Initially the commission had proposed a list of only four substances but in June the parliament’s environment committee had voted for an increased list of 37 substances including brominated flame retardants, beryllium and PVC. Green groups in particular had wanted further restrictions under the ROHS recast.
It was felt, however, that the priority list would not have survived the subsequent vote of the full parliament.
MEPs also dropped their request for a ban on nanosilver, but still opposed the proposal to allow a new measure of “availability of substitutes within a reasonable amount of time” to be used to grant exemptions. However, it should be used as a secondary consideration to determine the length of an exemption.
It is understood that the Belgian presidency agreed to drop this criterion during the second trialogue meeting, but the UK, along with other Member States, had objected. The presidency will meet with Member States as a matter of urgency to resolve this matter, which is the only outstanding issue left over from the third and final trialogue meeting. So a first reading approval is now likely with entry into force possibly by 2013.
Just Me commented:
The big problem with all these bans is there was no real thought into the alternatives before the ban.
Its the all or nothing idiotsy in that this has some problem so we ban it.
To these people it doesn't matter that no real thought has gone into all the factors, its just ban it or not, when simple controls mite be a better idea than an outright ban.
And then what about the alternatives, are they worse for the environment, or is there even a real alternative anyway?
Most all these bans don't really protect the environment, what they really do is make prices go up, and quality go down.
TheBug commented:
That is what you get from a deteriorating school system: Idiots wanting to restrict any substance that has a complicated name. Anyone for the ban of Dihydrogenmonoxide?
Nobody without even a basic knowledge of chemistry should be allowed to even open their mouth concerning such issues.
BS commented:
This whole ROHS/REACH thing seems like nothing more than a way to destroy a very robust electronics industry. Consider how much lead is contained in the solder from a cell phone (or other hand held gadget) relative to a car battery. Thank your local socialist for this "progress".
BS commented:
This whole ROHS/REACH business seems like nothing more than a way to suppress a very robust electronics industry. Consider how much lead is contained in the solder per cell phone (or other handheld gadget)relative to a single car battery.
compliance dude commented:
sounds like 31 overlaps with the REACH regulation substances of very high concern. Leave RoHS alone and allow REACH to be revised/updated.
RW commented:
Geez... why don't we all go to work at McDonalds making burgers and fries. That should please the green weenies of the world... until they find out how much methane cows make, then they'll ban meat as well.
Dr Bob commented:
By the time this bunch of monkeys have finished even water will be banned because you can drown in it.
