The EU Directive 2002/95/EC on the Restrictions of the Use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS Directive) will go into effect on 01 July 2006. The RoHS Directive bans the placing on the EU market of new EEE containing more than 1000/100 ppm of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and hexavalent chromium (Cr6+), along with polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) flame retardants.

Similar product-based environmental regulations are being introduced in many other parts of the world, including China, several States in the U.S., and Japan, etc. It is foreseeable that, by 2010, more than 75% of electronics sales will be made in countries with RoHS-equivalent regulations. Which means, EEE manufacturers, importers, and resellers must take appropriate actions to ensure that the product meets the environmental requirements, otherwise the product cannot be sold in most part of the world.

RoHS compliance management is a complicated subject, and the most difficult part lies in the supply chain, as every material could be a non-compliance risk. The restricted substances are added in the materials either intentionally or by mistake, and it is prohibitively expensive to inspect every batch of incoming and outgoing goods. Thus, EEE Producers must have strategies to manage the RoHS non-compliance risk.

To manage RoHS, a Producer may take below typical actions:

• Assess company's legal exposure
• Form a dedicated compliance task force
• Develop a company RoHS compliance policy/procedure
• Qualify parts and components with 3rd-party test reports
• Perform factory audit to assess supply-chain exposure
• Establish a supply-chain material declaration process
• Set up IQC testing facility (in-house lab)
• Devise an incoming sample-testing plan
• Compile product compliance documentation
• Review and improve the process.

Lander Testing is a recognized leader in RoHS non-compliance risk management services. We can provide you with complete end-to-end RoHS compliance management solutions, including:

• Company green policy development counseling
• Training, both internal and external
• RoHS verification testing
• RoHS system assessment and development
• RoHS test plan development
• Establishment of in-house RoHS testing laboratory
• RoHS compliance documentation compilation
• Lead-free Manufacturing and Reliability Analysis
• Your special requests