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)

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.

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.

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.

The draft standard IEC 62321 on Procedures for the determination of levels of six regulated substances (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Polybrominated Biphenyls, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers) was approved by the IEC/TC111 committee. Both industry and government have been awaiting the publication of this standard to provide a common agreement for testing for the RoHS

The IEC is developing an international standard on Environmentally Conscious Design (ECD) of IT and Communication Technology products (IEC62075, Ed 1.0). The standard is being developed by experts within the TC108 committee — representatives from the major IT and communication equipment producers. Balloting on the draft standard closed this month. The current proposal specifies requirements and recommendations for the environmentally conscious design of products with regard to:

• life cycle thinking aspects,
• material efficiency,
• energy efficiency,
• consumables and batteries,
• chemical and noise emissions,
• extension of product lifetime,
• end of life,
• hazardous substances/preparations,
• product packaging, and
• documentation.

IEC/TC111 began development of TS62476 “Guidance for assessing compliance of finished goods” with respect to restriction of use of hazardous substances”. As an International Specification, the objective is to make the guidance generally applicable across multiple regions, including the European Union and China.

IEC/TC111 began development of a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) on Sample Disjointment. This specification will assist manufacturers and OEMs disassembling and sampling products/components for purpose of testing with respect to the RoHS restricted substances.

IPC has released an update to the material declaration forms that correct the licensing issue by Adobe. Adobe is working to provide a secure, web-based system to reenable v1.0 forms and remove the time restriction on existing forms. (UPDATE: As of Oct 2006, the re-enablement web site is still awaiting release)