Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Best Practices for Electronic Component Salvaging
Global Citizenship: Together for a Perfect PCB Solution
Smart Automation: Odd-form Assembly—Dedicated Insertion Equipment Matters
Dual-Use Export Controls Regulation: One to Watch for the Electronics Industry
April 25, 2018 | IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The European Union is currently working to update its legislation on export controls for dual-use items, meaning items that can be used for both civilian and military applications and/or can contribute to the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Most importantly, the proposal for an updated Regulation introduces the following changes:
- Expansion of list of dual-use items to include cyber-surveillance technologies and those that can be used for human rights violations.
- Added obligation for exporters, when conducting their due diligence, to notify Member State authorities, if they suspect exported items not listed in the Regulation are used to violate human rights.
- The European Commission is empowered to amend the list of dual-use items covered by the Regulation, so continuous monitoring of this process will be needed to ensure regulatory compliance.
The new Regulation does not include any specific mentions of printed circuit boards, but is nevertheless a piece of legislation that IPC members must be aware of, as it could create possible regulatory compliance issues. With that in mind, IPC has drafted a briefing note detailing the new provisions introduced by the Regulation, as well as the state of play and next steps in the legislative process. The updated proposal is currently being discussed by representatives of the European Commission, Council and Parliament in informal “trilogues”. It is possible that the updated Regulation will have gone through the legislative process in the course of 2019.
The more detailed briefing note on the new regulation on export controls on dual-use items can be found here.
IPC members are invited to share their feedback on this document and any other thoughts and concerns they might have on export controls for dual-use items with Chris Mitchell, IPC’s vice president of global government relations, at ChrisMitchell@ipc.org.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Our marketing partnership with I-Connect007 is already delivering. Just a day after our press release went live, we received a direct inquiry about our updated products!"
Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
Building Electronics Excellence in India
09/08/2025 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineFor over two decades, Dave Bergman has helped steer the Global Electronics Association’s work in India, from a single training course to a thriving regional operation with deep government and industry ties. In this interview, Dave explains how the group went from partnering with IPCA to opening its own office in 2010, creating India’s first domestic electronics manufacturing standard, and securing funding for dozens of Indian companies to attend U.S. trade shows.
New Podcast Episode Drop: MKS’ Atotech’s Role in Optimize the Interconnect
09/08/2025 | I-Connect007In this episode of On the Line With…, host Nolan Johnson sits down with Patrick Brooks, MKS' Atotech's Global Product Director, EL Systems, to discuss the critical role that wet processes play alongside laser systems in advancing the Optimize the InterconnectSM initiative. Brooks points to Bondfilm as a key example—a specialized coating that enables CO₂ lasers to ablate more effectively than ever before.
The Global Electronics Association Hosts Successful WorksAsia-AI and Factory of the Future Technical Seminar
09/03/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationOn August 22, 2025, the Global Electronics Association hosted the successful WorksAsia-AI and Factory of the Future Technical Seminar during the exhibition Automation Taipei 2025. The seminar brought together 81 representatives from 58 companies, focusing on the latest applications of AI in smart factories and unveiling four key directions that will drive the electronics industry’s transition toward intelligence and sustainability.
TRI's AI-Powered Inspection Solutions at SMTAI 2025
09/02/2025 | TRITest Research, Inc. (TRI), the leading provider of test and inspection systems, will be joining the SMTA International Exposition & Conference. The event will be held from October 21 – 23, 2025, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, USA.
More Than a Competition: Instilling a Champion's Skill in IPC Masters China 2025
09/01/2025 | Evelyn Cui, Global Electronics Association—East AsiaNearly 500 elite professionals from the electronics industry, representing 18 provinces and municipalities across China, competed in the 2025 IPC Masters Competition China, March 26–28, in Pudong, Shanghai. A total of 114 contestants advanced to the practical competition after passing the IPC Standards Knowledge Competition. Sixty people competed in the Hand Soldering and Rework Competition (HSRC), 30 in the Cable and Wire Harness Assembly Competition (CWAC), and 24 in the Ball Grid Array/Bottom Termination Components (BGA/BTC) Rework Competition.