BRUSSELS – Comments are being sought from companies whose designs would either be rendered impracticable with RoHS-free substances or where the negative environmental and consumer safety impacts caused by switching would outweigh the benefits.

While the ROHS Directive 2002/95/EC bans lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB and PBDE, the annex to the Directive lists a limited number of applications which are exempted. However, under pressure from industry, the European Commission is accepting input on requests for possible additional exemptions.

On the list of requested exemptions is lead used in solder on small PCBs and tinned leads of primary components, and lead used in industrial electronics. For more information visit http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/weee_index.htm, under Events.

Article 5(1)(b) of Directive 2002/95/EC provides that materials and components can be exempted from the substance restrictions contained in Article 4(1) if their elimination or substitution via design changes or materials and components which do not require any of the materials or substances referred to therein is technically or scientifically impracticable, or where the negative environmental, health and/or consumer safety impacts caused by substitution outweigh the environmental, health and/or consumer safety benefits thereof.