ERA Technology has been awarded a contract by the European Commission to review specific exemptions under the RoHS Directive. This study is intended to clarify the case for each exemption and ensure that legislation takes account of advances in more environmentally friendly technologies as they are developed by industry.

The study will assess the validity of two existing and nine proposed exemptions, namely:
	mercury in straight fluorescent lamps for special purposes
	lead in solders for servers, storage and storage array systems, network infrastructure equipment for switching, signalling, transmission as well as network management for telecommunications (with a view to setting a specific time limit for this exemption)
	light bulbs
	compliant pin & press fit connector systems
	lead as a coating material for thermal conduction module C-ring
	lead and cadmium in optical and filter glass
	optical transceivers for industrial applications
	lead in solders consisting of more than two elements for the connection between the pins and the package of microprocessors with a lead content of more than 85% in the proportion to tin-lead content (exemption until 2010)
	lead in high melting temperature type solders (i.e. tin-lead solder alloys containing more than 85% lead) and any lower melting temperature solder required to be used with high melting temperature solder to complete a viable electrical connection
	lead in solders to complete a viable electrical connection internal to certain Integrated Circuit Packages (flip chips) (exemptions until 2010)
	safety equipment for fire and rescue services

The project will gather relevant information on existing and alternative technologies from industry experts, trade associations and published or other sources. In particular those organisations originally requesting the exemptions will be consulted.

The exemptions under review will be evaluated against defined criteria (based on Article 5(1)(b) of RoHS). These include scope, costs, advantages & disadvantages, feasibility and status of alternatives, environmental, health & consumer safety.

The output of this study, due in December 2004, will be published on the Commission's web site and will be used by the TAC to make informed decisions on the validity of each exemption.

Dr Paul Goodman of ERA, who is leading this study, said, "we look forward to working closely with all interested parties and would welcome direct approaches".

For more information contact Dr Paul Goodman on +44 1372 367444, paul.goodman@era.co.uk.

Explanatory note for editors:
The Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances Directive enters force on 1st July 2006. It restricts the use of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium and the flame retardants PBB & PBDE from many types of electrical equipment. The Technical Adaptation Committee (TAC) is responsible for the implementation of the Directive.

About ERA Technology Ltd:
ERA was founded in 1920 and employs 300 staff . It carries out technical engineering consultancy across a wide range of disciplines from electronic design to engineering asset management.

The Reliability & Failure Analysis Group, which is undertaking this study, advises on technical implementation issues pertaining to environmental legislation and electrical products. It has recently completed a study for the UK government's DTI concerning approaches to compliance with the RoHS Directive.

ERA Technology is a Chelton Group Company, part of Cobham Plc