RoHSThe revised draft directive adds restrictions on BFRs and PVC
Major electronics manufacturers Dell, HP, Sony-Ericsson and Acer recently issued a joint statement with three environmental organizations, calling for the restriction of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in electronic and electrical appliances in the revised EU RoHS directive. Use in Products.
The three environmental organizations that issued the statement together with the four electronics giants were the International Chemistry Secretariat (ChemSec), the European Environment Bureau (EEB) and the Clean Products Action Group (CPA). They jointly called on the European Parliament’s Environment Committee to review the amendments to the RoHS Directive. In the voting of the draft, restrictions on BFRs and PVC were adopted. The vote will take place on June 3, 2010.
Alexandra McPherson, a partner at Cleaning Products Action (CPA), stressed in her speech that these companies have "worked hard" to prove that harmful substances can be replaced, and what is needed now is a level playing field. Last week the International Chemistry Secretariat (ChemSec) published a report proving that products that do not contain these harmful substances are already widely available in the EU market.
A joint statement from the four companies:
Acer: "The elimination of environmentally sensitive substances (such as BFRs and PVC) has begun and is proceeding smoothly at Acer. However, we have no way to bring the entire supply chain to the same level by relying solely on our own strength, and the relevant laws and regulations The establishment of legal restrictions will help this process, thereby ensuring the implementation of the overall supply chain, cost reduction and the effective development of safer alternative materials.”
Dell: “Dell supports the inclusion of BFRs and PVC within the scope of RoHS restricted substances and comprehensive restrictions on such substances in 2015. In the current situation where the EU institutions are discussing the RoHS revision, we hope that the EU decision-makers Amend the RoHS Directive to ban the use of PVC and BFRs in electrical and electronic equipment”
HP: "HP is working with suppliers around the world to eliminate these chemicals from our PC product lines. Through our scientific evaluation of alternatives, we have found that safer alternative materials do exist. We support the revision of These restrictive requirements are added to the RoHS Directive.”
Sony-Ericsson: “Sony-Ericsson is committed to the complete elimination of organic halogenated compounds from its products and has at this stage almost completely eliminated the use of BFRs. We firmly believe that the electronics industry has a responsibility to take proactive action to find alternatives to BFR and PVC, so We call on the EU to vote to adopt a stricter RoHS directive.”
– Source: WTO Inspection and Quarantine Information Network
