BANNOCKBURN, IL – Calling certain proposed recommendations to the RoHS Directive “arbitrary and lack(ing) a sound scientific basis,” IPC today issued a point-by-point rebuttal to the German non-profit firm that devised them.
 
The trade group summarized its stance in a white paper, “The Electronic Interconnection Industry Supply Chain’s Response to the Öko-Institut Recommendations for Proposed Revisions to the RoHS Directive,” a culmination of industry concerns voiced during a June meeting in Brussels.
 
“The white paper has a long title for what is essentially a point-by-point summary of technical issues not considered by the Öko-Institut in their report,” explained Fern Abrams, IPC’s director of government relations and environmental policy. “It is important that the commissioners understand the Öko-Institut recommendations are arbitrary, lack a sound scientific basis and would have a significant negative impact on our members and the industry.”
 
Earlier this year, the Öko-Institut proposed to expand the RoHS substance restrictions.
 
The Öko-Institut (Institute for Applied Ecology) is a non-governmental, non-profit environmental research firm. Previously, the group recommended the restriction of Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), the flame retardant used to protect more than 80% of PCBs, despite that TBBPA was found to be safe by a comprehensive European Union risk assessment, IPC said. In addition, Hexabromocylcododecanes (HBCDDs), several phthalate plasticizers, and all organic compounds containing chlorine and bromine, are identified in a report as suggested bans.
 
IPC will share the white paper with EU commissioners and other key decision makers; it is available for free download at www.ipc.org/ehs.