Guidance for evaluation of product with respect to substance-use restrictions. IEC 62476 TR (Guidance for evaluation of product with respect to substance use restrictions in electrical and electronic products) was approved by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in December 2009 and has now been published. The document includes high-level requirements and guidance for restricted substance controls (RSC).
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“International standards emerge for environmental compliance” published in EP&T magazine
The article “International standards emerge for environmental compliance” written by Walter Jager was published in EP&T magazine and is available at http://www.ept.ca/news/international-standards-emerge-for-environmental-compliance/1000350318/
Additional information is available at http://rohs.ca/
March 23, 2009 – EU Commission makes available the report on recommendations for the current EU RoHS exemptions
The European Union Commission has published the report that they commissioned to assess and provide recommendations on the EU RoHS exemptions. The report written by the Öko-Institute and Fraunhofer IZM recommends that six of the active exemptions be withdrawn in the near term and has proposed tightened wording and timelines for other RoHS exemptions.
March 2009: Article published on “International standards emerge for environmental compliance”
The article “International standards emerge for environmental compliance” written by Walter Jager, president of ECD Technology Ltd., is published in the March/April edition of EP&T magazine. (available online at www.ept.ca)
January 14, 2009 – ECHA prioritizes seven SVHC substances for REACH authorization
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) proposed a list of seven (7) priority SVHC substances that they are suggesting for initial inclusion in Annex XIV of the REACH regulation. After a pre-determined time period a manufacturer or importer will need to obtain authorization from ECHA to continue selling the product with these substance. ECHA is currently asking for input from stakeholders on the list of substances and potential exemptions to authorization. The prioritised substances are:
- 5-tert-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene (musk xylene)
- Alkanes,C10-13,chloro (short chain chlorinated paraffins; SCCPs)
- Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and all major diastereoisomers identified
- 4,4’-Diamino diphenyl methane (MDA)
- Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
- Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and
- Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
December 3, 2008 – EU Commission releases updated RoHS and WEEE Directives
The EU Commission has released proposals to update the RoHS and WEEE Directives. The new RoHS proposal:Includes Medical Equipment and Monitoring and Control Instruments within the scope of RoHS
- Brings RoHS compliance under the CE mark
- Establishes requirements for Conformity assessment, and market surveillance,
- Improves the process for requesting exemptions but establishes a time limit of four years.
- Separates the scope of the RoHS Directive from the WEEE Directive
- Establishes definitions for several key terms, including homogeneous material and fixed installation
The key changes proposed for the WEEE Directive are clarification of scope and definitions, more ambitious, but flexible recovery and recycling targets, strengthened enforcement, and some level of harmonization to registration and reporting systems.
October 28, 2008 – ECHA publishes official REACH SVHC list
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published the official SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) candidate list on its web site consisting of 15 substances. The publication of the candidate list imposes immediate communication requirements on manufacturers and importers of products, preparations, and substances.>
October 10, 2008 – IEC PAS 62596 on Sample Disjointment is Approved
This guidance document is particularly useful given that a significant number of errors in testing are caused by initial errors in obtaining and preparing samples. The draft for a Publically Available Specification (PAS) on “Sample Disjointment” for purposes of restricted substance testing was approved by IEC National Committees when the voting period closed on October 10, 2008.
The PAS 62596 document will be publicly released within a couple months.
October 3, 2008: IEC 62321 – Standard for Test Methods for RoHS substances is Approved
The IEC 62321 FDIS (Final Draft International Standard) was unanimously approved by TC111 National Committees on Oct 3, 2008. The standard describes accepted methods for sample preparation and testing for the six RoHS substances.
The IEC62321 is expected to be formally published as an International Standard in January or February 2009. Several government enforcement authorities have already indicated; that they will accept the testing standard.
September 5, 2008: IEC 62430 – Environmentally Conscious Design (ECD) Standard is Approved
The IEC 62430 Committee Draft for Vote (CDV) was unanimously approved (with 4 abstains) when balloting closed on September 5, 2008. The working group has made editorial improvements that were recommended by National Committees and the document is now going through IEC central office for publication as an International Standard.
IEC 62430 specifies baseline requirements for developing and implementing an ECD process (including documentation requirements) as part of an organization’s design processes.