Author Archives: Fern Abrams

EU Governments Reach Agreement on Spare Parts Under RoHS

July 21, 2017 – 6:20 am

On 21 June, the European Commission, the European Parliament and Council agreed on proposed amendments to the RoHS Directive. These amendments will permit secondary market operations, such as reselling of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and spare parts containing prohibited substances beyond the current 2019 deadline, in order to promote a circular economy by facilitating […]

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California Publishes Q&A on New Prop 65 Warning Requirements

July 17, 2017 – 3:22 pm

Last week, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) posted a new question and answer document on the new Proposition 65 Clear and Reasonable Warning regulations announced last year. The final rule, announced by OEHHA on September 2, 2016, will be effective on August 30, 2018. The new rules include requirements for what […]

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IPC supports OSHA Proposal to Delay Reporting of Injury Tracking

July 17, 2017 – 8:03 am

Last week, IPC, along with 60 other organizations, submitted comments supporting an Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) proposed rule to delay the compliance date for the reporting requirement under the final Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Regulation issued May 12, 2016. The comments welcome OSHA’s proposal to delay the reporting requirement under the […]

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Court Strikes Down Part of the 2015 DSW Rule

July 14, 2017 – 1:42 pm

Last week, in a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down parts of the 2015 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Definition of Solid Waste (DSW) rule. IPC opposed the 2015 rule because it inappropriately regulates secondary materials that have been sent for recycling as hazardous wastes. EPA’s […]

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SEC Chair Jay Clayton Voices Support for Disclosure Reform; Could Include Conflict Minerals

July 13, 2017 – 2:13 pm

According to a Reuters article, the new Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Jay Clayton indicated his support for reducing disclosure rules during a July 12, 2017 speech to the Economic Club of New York. During the speech, Clayton laid out his regulatory philosophy and said the SEC staff was working to […]

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EU Commission Adopts Guidelines for Social Responsibility (Including Conflict Minerals) Reporting

July 10, 2017 – 8:15 am

On June 26, 2017, the European Union (EU) finalized “Guidelines on non-financial reporting,” to support companies in fulfilling their reporting obligations under current non-financial disclosure requirements. The adoption of the voluntary guidelines will supplement the already existing EU rules on non-financial reporting (Directive 2014/95/EU). Companies falling within its scope have to disclose relevant information on […]

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Proposed IEC Standard on Halogen Free Raises Concerns

July 7, 2017 – 10:32 am

Like the game of whack-a-mole, the idea of a standard for low halogen electronics keeps popping up. Originally, proposed as an IPC specification of chlorine and bromine in copper-clad laminates, IEC 61249-2-21 was established many years ago to define FR-4 products for halogen-free. Then about a decade ago, concerns about certain toxic Br containing flame […]

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Chinese Government Issues Draft List of Products Covered by China RoHS2

July 6, 2017 – 2:30 pm

On June 29, 2017, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a draft list of 12 consumer products that would be required to comply with hazardous substance restrictions under the country’s RoHS2 law, which is the same list of substances included under the European Union’s RoHS Directive. Feedback will be accepted until July […]

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OSHA Proposes Delay in Injury and Illness Electronic Recordkeeping Rule; Asks for Comment

July 3, 2017 – 10:15 am

Last week, OSHA announced a proposed delay in the electronic reporting compliance date of the rule, Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, from July 1, 2017, to Dec. 1, 2017. In this announcement, OSHA states “The proposed delay in the deadline for submission of 2016 Form 300A data will give the new administration an […]

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EPA Publishes Chemical Safety Framework Rules

June 29, 2017 – 12:59 pm

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released three final rules as required under the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act (LCSA) passed one year ago to reform and update the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The rules establish EPA’s procedures for evaluating and regulating chemicals in commerce. The new rules and other documents will affect not […]

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