TABLE OF CONTENTS Keywords SMART Group, Seminars, Lead-free soldering
A packed house, a sell-out event. 179 delegates from all over the UK reflected the rising tide of concern with a subject that has been well-aired, not least by the SMART Group, but which has yet to find commercial application in the field in this country.
The first of the eight excellent speakers was Steve Andrews from the DTI who spoke about The RoHS Directive Consultation, Compliance & Enforcement.
Steve Andrews comes from the DTI Recycling Policy Unit and he highlighted the six key issues to be decided upon, of which more later. He explained the RoHS Directive, and the six hazardous substances, lead, mercury, etc. He looked at the scope of the RoHS Directive, and informed the delegates that there would be UK regulations in place by August 2004. The consultation period is now nearly over, he said, and the draft regulations and non-statutory guidance would be issued in the spring of this year.
The six key issues are as follows:
Scope there are ten broad categories in the WEEE directive. Where topics fall is clear in 90 per cent of cases, but there is a significant 10 per cent that fall into the grey areas . Debate at EU level is difficult, but the DTI is hopeful that they will get the EU to agree upon a list of criteria that member states might use, by end of March.
