RoHS & WEEE

European Union (EU) Directive requires:
“Member States shall ensure that, from 1 July 2006, new electrical and electronic equipment put on the market does not contain lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).”

http://leadfree.ipc.org/

This Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) named above has clearly determined the end of Tin-Lead Sn-Pb based solders along with the five other substances. These substances will not be used in any process to manufacture products acceptable for sale in the EU market.

Along with the EU, Japan and other industrialized countries are also enforcing similar controls. RoHS compliance is being recognized by most of the electronic equipment manufacturers that are building consumer products. Most have already transitioned to Lead-Free products, however a fair percentage of specialty product manufacturers are procrastinating in the face of fast approaching cut off deadline of July 1, 2006.

Within the United States, it is expected that California will lead the way with a cut off date planned for early 2007. This effectively will end the use of Tin-Lead solders. Some industries will take exception like the medical, automotive, military, and aerospace industries.