EU Directives and Regulations Significantly Impact Electronics Industry

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A September 10 European Union (EU) Court of Justice ruling on a case on the calculation of levels of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) in articles under the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) regulation will significantly increase REACH reporting requirements in the electronics industry. For electronics manufacturers who want to learn more about the effect of the ruling on their compliance program, Teresa Bernheim, Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (BAuA) will provide an update at IPC Conference on Government Regulation on October 13, 2015 in Essen, Germany.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn about pending EU regulations on conflict minerals, which may prove to be even more burdensome than U.S. regulations. Guenter Nooke, personal advisor on Africa to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, will deliver an address on proposed legislation and its impact upon electronics manufacturers and Ambassador Jean Du Ruyt, Covington & Burling, Brussels, will discuss the European Union Parliament vote on conflict minerals legislation and negotiations between the EU Council and Commission.

Additional topics covered at the conference include RoHS exemptions review process and regulation of additional substances, and the EU’s new circular economy strategy, addressing a range of economic sectors, including electronic waste.

“Staying on top of the ever-evolving landscape of EU Directives and regulations is critical to ensuring the continued compliance of a manufacturer’s products,” said John Hasselmann, IPC vice president of government relations. “It’s important for European electronics manufacturers to get the facts they need to prepare their companies for conflict minerals, RoHs and REACH legislation.”

For more information on IPC Conference on Government Regulation, click here.

About IPC

IPC is a global industry association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 3,700 member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $2 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore and New Delhi, India; Bangkok, Thailand; and Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Suzhou and Beijing, China.