July 2006: Europe agrees lead ban in electrical and electronic equipment

Citation

(2003), "July 2006: Europe agrees lead ban in electrical and electronic equipment", Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Vol. 15 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ssmt.2003.21915aab.007

July 2006: Europe agrees lead ban in electrical and electronic equipment

July 2006: Europe agrees lead ban in electrical and electronic equipment

Keywords: Lead, Electronics Industry

Agreement on European Directives directly affecting the electronics assembly industry has confirmed that a long expected ban on lead will come into effect on 1st July 2006; nearly 2 years earlier than the date proposed in the original draft of the legislation. Although some information is available on the conclusion of negotiations on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RHS) proposals, the official text of the legislation, and further details on exemptions, will not be confirmed until the documents are finally published later this year or early in 2003. In addition to lead, the use of mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and two types of brominated flame retardants, PBB and PBDE will be phased out by 1st July 2006.

Legislation will not enforce the ban of lead until 2006, but the electronics industry must prepare itself for compliance now, warns SOLDERTEC.

For further information, visit www.lead-free.org