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LONDON -- The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has published a consultation paper on proposed changes the European Commission has put forward for WEEE and RoHS.

The changes for WEEE include significant increases in the amounts of electric and electronic waste that are separately collected and recycled.

The changes to RoHS tighten the scope of the restrictions and the substances they apply to.

Commenting on the proposals a BERR spokesperson said: "The UK welcomes the Commission's intention to strengthen the Directives, with further steps to limit the environmental impact of waste equipment. However, we are concerned that the WEEE proposals in particular do present some significant challenges for British businesses."

The consultation paper is designed to give the electronics and ICT industries, the waste management sector, consumers and other interested parties the opportunity to inform the UK government in the impact the changes will have, ahead of the formal negotiations in Brussels.

Responses to the review should be made by May 13, 2009.

The Consultation document is available at: www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/sustainability/weee/page30269.html.

ARLINGTON, VA – Electronics component orders bounced back slightly in March from lows in the first two months of the year, according to the monthly index compiled by the Electronic Components Association.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Spring is showing signs of life for PCB makers. Utilization rates have climbed, and order visibility has been extended to 3 to 4 weeks, on increased notebook and TFT LCD orders, reports DigiTimes.

HannStar Board reported revenues jumped 32.17% in March to NT$1.65 billion (US$48.7 million). April revenues are expected to remain level or increase slightly, says DigiTimes.

Tripod Technology reported its utilization rate soared 70% and has increased its order lead time. Dynamic Electronics forecasts first-quarter revenue at NT$1.7 to $1.8 billion (US$50.7 million to $53.7 million) and expects double-digit growth for April, reports DigiTimes.

TORONTO – Firan Technology Group Corp. (FTG) reported first-quarter sales climbed 8% year-over-year to $14.7 million, on the strength of the US dollar. The gross margin, as a percentage of sales, rose 31%.

TAIPEI -- Global flip-chip (FC) substrate suppliers Phoenix Precision Technology (PPT) and Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board (NPC) may see double digit growth for March according to Digitimes. PPT recorded a 32% revenue increase in March while NPC should see a 20% growth for the month.

PPT's March revenues totaled NT$810 million (US$24.46 million), up from previous forecasts, reflecting strong FC substrate orders for graphics cards. March utilization rate increased to 40% to 50%, up from a 30% rate in January and February.

At NPC, utilization rates for FC and wire-bonding return to 50% to 60% in March while its PCB utilization rate remained below 50%. FC substrates account for 50% of NPC's total revenues, with PCB and wire-bonding substrates at 30% and 20%, respectively.