Directive Decoder

There are two lots of UK battery regulations to consider.

The 2008 regulations cover chemical restrictions and labelling while the focus of the 2009 regulations is registration and recycling.

Currently, around 70% of all imported batteries are failing compliance due to the incorrect sizing of the obligatory symbols.

For my exclusive guide to these two regulations see below:

2008 and 2009 Battery Regulations

Directive Decoder

The ECHA Member State Committee identified today (7 December) 15 new chemical substances for the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC).

The list will formally be updated in January 2010.

15 New Substances

Directive Decoder

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Directive Decoder

For details of the 15 new SVHCs that will be added to the Candidate List , their CAS number, potential hazard and uses in electrical equipment refer to the attached file:

New SVHCs announced 7 December

Directive Decoder

The last 12 months has witnessed several proposals to amend the scope of the RoHS Directive.

Proposals were published in December 2008, followed by more in July 2009 driven by Sweden as EC Presidents.

Finally, in November 2009 there was the first draft recast of the directive including a new "category 11" which would cover all EEE not included in categories 1 to 10.

There were proposed changes to definitions, additional substance restrictions and whether or not these should be analysed using a RoHS or REACH methodology.

Also under consideration was RoHS becoming a CE compliance directive and finally, the status of exemptions.

So what happens next?

Well, three parties have to agree on a final version. The European Commission, The Council of Ministers supported by the Environment Council Working Group and finally, the European Parliament.

Currently they have differing views on scope, large-scale industrial tools, fixed installations, additional substance restrictions, CE compliance and exemptions.

It seems certain therefore that there will be another recast at some stage next year, but it does look like there could well be significant changes to the scope of the directive.

Directive Decoder

Tin plating has been, and continues to be, the preferred surface coating for the leads on electronic components. However, tin-based plating can be susceptible to the formation of needle-like protrusions, or whiskers.  If whiskers grow to critical lengths in service, they could cause electrical shorts, disruption of moving parts, and / or degraded RF / high-speed performance.  For decades, small amounts of lead have been added to the tin to prevent the growth of whiskers, but  elimination of lead has stimulated a review of the risks associated with the use of pure tin. This is especially a concern for high-reliability products.

If you are concerned about tin whiskers we recommend the iNEMI website, link below:

iNEMI

Directive Decoder

RoHS recast unlikely to be agreed in 2010 according to BIS

Directive Decoder

Thought for the day:

"We should push for further development of and rapid agreement on existing EU energy efficiency proposals over the next 5 years,

including improvements to the energy and environmental performance of products and buildings. The EU needs to provide its industry with clear, long term targets that take account of product development cycles and industry's ability to invest in the required technology"

Endorsed by Peter Mandelson

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills