Directive Decoder

This lack of progress may be due to the key Australian involvement in the World Electronics Forum led dialogue with APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation) on RoHS harmonisation across APEC.

However, the initial meeting in June did not result in a unilateral agreement for an APEC RoHS standard. As a result, it is hoped that the Australian Government will publish the impact assessment report shortly and provide industry with a position statement.

Regarding APEC RoHS harmonisation, dialogue is continuing but, as with the European Union, the wheels of the larger bureaucratic machines turn slowly.

In general, Australian industry is supportive of the introduction of a RoHS policy providing adequate time is provided for compliance.

While it is recognised that compliance costs will be disproportionately higher for small businesses, and compliance may be difficult to establish and enforce, there could well be export benefits for companies complying with RoHS.

There is also some concern among design engineers around the reliability issues of using lead-free solders.

The benefits of RoHS are also uncertain as information about the release of hazardous substances from electrical and electronic equipment, and human exposure levels during manufacture, use, disposal and recycling in Australia is limited.

However, it is recognised that the hazards posed by heavy metals used in electrical products (e.g. cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury) are well documented.

Australia joins an ever increasing list of countries looking at RoHS style legislation, including Japan, China, South Korea the US and Canada.

Directive Decoder