1

Who's in charge here?

The European Union is the organization most directly responsible for laying down the “Lead-Free” law in this case. Their WEEE and RoHS directives are setting the standards that the rest of the world is following. However, roughly speaking, we’re all in charge of doing our part to rid the planet of all the hazardous substances we can.

2

What's the point of all this?

The point of taking the electronics community “Lead-Free” is to leave behind a world where it’s safe to breathe the air, drink the water and eat all the plants and animals that inhabit it. Sorry plants and animals.

3

Will this affect me?

If you design, manufacture, import, export, distribute or sell electronics or electronic equipment, you’re affected by the “Lead-Free” Revolution.

4

What hazardous substances are being restricted?

There are currently hazardous substances that are listed under the RoHS directive but provisions have been made to include others as evidence presents itself. The 6 substances are Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Polybrominated Biphenyls and Polybrominated Diphenyls Ethers.

5

What can I do to prepare?

Get educated on everything “Lead-Free”. Knowledge is your best weapon and once you know what to watch out for, it will be easier to plan your campaign towards taking your products “Lead-Free”. Let SemicondcutorStore.com be your guide to going “Lead-Free”.

6

What's this going to cost me?

The exact cost of the “Lead-Free” Revolution is far from determined at this point but estimates have it costing more than $360 for UK companies alone. Your portion is almost sure to be less than this, but whatever the cost, the future benefits of living in a world free of Lead and other hazardous chemicals far outweigh the costs.

7

What problems is going "Lead-Free" likely to cause?

Other than the obvious costs associated with going “Lead-Free”, component manufacturers have to be careful to mark “Lead-Free” components properly, distributors have to make sure they are inventorying “Lead-Free” components differently from Leaded components and product manufacturers must be certain they are ordering “Lead-Free” parts and marking these products accordingly for entry into the European market. Apart from those issues, using “Lead-Free” solder and other alternatives may present problems with regard to the reliability of these products.

8

How can I make sure I'm using "Lead-Free" parts?

Anyone who is using “Lead-Free” parts in their end products should know the origin of those parts as well as the “Lead-Free” stance of the manufacturer and anyone else involved in the supply chain. Making this work is going to take cooperation and due diligence from everyone in the electronics supply chain so the more people ask about “Lead-Free” the more likely this whole thing is to work.

9

What about spare parts?

Products that are, or will be, put on the market prior to the July 1, 2006 deadline, are not bound by the RoHS directive with regard to repairs or spare parts used for repairs. However, if a product is put on the market after July 1, 2006, repairs and spare parts are bound by this directive and mist be “Lead-Free”

10

What's the big deal with Lead?

Well, Lead is everywhere, especially in electronics. Everything that has a PCB in it has Lead in it. And when these PCBs get to the landfill, they are broken down over time by acid rain and other factors, releasing Lead into the soil, water and air. Once in the environment, Lead can cause a number of serious health issues, including Anemia, Kidney failure and various reproductive problems. Lead is being singled out as the poster child for the “Lead-Free” Revolution because of its prevalence in electronics and because it’s easier to say than Hexavalent Chromium.

11

What happens if I don't listen?

The WEEE and RoHS directives have set up a sort of “Honors System” form of compliance but guidelines have been established by the member countries to see that those who do not comply will be penalized. Ultimately, if you don’t comply, your going have a very tough time getting your products imported and sold in Europe. That’s about 460 Million potential customers you can scratch off your list.

12

If I'm Pb-Free, am I RoHS compliant?

Not necessarily. RoHS compliance requires that your products do not exceed the Minimum Concentration Value for all 6 of the substances restricted under the RoHS directive. So, being Pb-Free isn’t quite enough. You must also be Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Polybrominated Biphenyl and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether-Free as well.

13

Why isn't the U.S. leading the "Lead-Free" charge?

The United States has been slow to adopt legislation specifically banning or restricting Lead and other hazardous substances because the EPA is still conducting tests to determine the exact impact of certain substances in the environment. Where the U.S. has an innocent until proven guilty philosophy with regards to this sort of thing, the European Union has a more ‘common sense’ policy requiring much less scientific proof to move forward, choosing not to wait on restricting something that is harmful.

14

Should I just give up design engineering and become a farmer?

Of course not. Going “Lead-Free” isn’t as scary or overwhelming as it first sounds. Sure, there’s a lot to do and a lot keep track of, but it’s better than getting up at 5:30AM to plow a field and milk cows.

15

But I like polluting the environment, what can I do?

Get off the planet!