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BRUSSELS – The European Commission issued a proposal to revise the EU’s RoHS Directive.

The proposal is expected to enter into force at the end of 2011 and links future assessment of substances under RoHS to the principles behind the EU’s REACH chemicals policy. It does not add any new substances to the restrictions list.

However, the proposal is said to fall short of achieving scientific and regulatory consistency, according to the European Brominated Flame Retardant Industry Panel. The proposal contradicts the EU’s existing chemicals policy by restricting use of the flame retardant Deca-BDE, despite an EU risk assessment concluding there is no need for any such restriction, says EBFRIP.

EBFRIP looks to the parliament and council to address this inconsistency during their consideration of the proposal in 2009 and 2010.

TAIPEI – Third-quarter contract DRAM prices fell, down 34% sequentially, with spot prices down 52%, says DRAMeXchange.

The research firm estimates the global DRAM market will reach $23.2 billion in 2008, down 24.7% compared to 2007. Average selling prices will drop 55%, says DRAMeXchange.

Revenues, excluding OEMs, were $6.35 billion in the third quarter, down 2.4% sequentially.

Samsung has reportedly taken a leading 23.9% share of the global market, down 9.9% compared to the prior quarter. Nanya, ranked no. 6, was the only company to have increased revenues significantly, to $350 million, up 31.6%, says the research firm.

Powerchip, in 7th place, had the largest sequential decline, down 16.3% to $254 million.

Qimonda recorded an increase of 2.2%, to $613 million, putting the firm in fifth position. Hynix remains in second, with a market share of 20.5%, followed by Elpida (16%) and Micron Technology (12.3%).

Micron's share is expected to rise dramatically in 2009 with its purchase of Inotera and its licensing deal with Nanya.

DRAMeXchange suggests Samsung was the only DRAM player to record profits in the third quarter.

MADISON, AL – STI Electronics Inc. says it provides evaluation and detection of counterfeit components.

STI’s analytical laboratory offers various services to investigate for counterfeit devices. Some of these services include functional testing, optical inspection, x-ray analysis, FT-IR testing, elemental surface analysis (SEM/EDS) and chemical mechanical decapsulation.

The firm also provides training, distribution, consulting, laboratory analysis, prototyping, and PCB assembly.