Lead Free and the Electronics Industry

It's a lot more complex than just finding a solder solution.

Since the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (ROHS) Directive took effect in 2006, the electronics industry has been working to eliminate lead in electronics. The RoHS Directive bans the placement of new electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) containing lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium and both polychlorinated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants on the EU market. Complying with the RoHS Directive has been much more complicated for companies to comply with than originally anticipated. This website is intended to help guide you toward ensuring your products are RoHS compliant and therefore retain access to the EU market.

For several years, the industry has been working towards eliminating lead in electronics by July 1, 2006, as required under the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive. The EU has submitted proposed revisions to the ROHS Directive. But complying with RoHS is actually much more complicated, as companies have found out. In addition to the EU RoHS Directive, there are now related laws and regulations in China, Korea and in the State of California (U.S.).

This web site is divided into three sections: Compliance, Implementation, and Environment.

In the compliance section, we have included information on which products are covered, and what is required for complying with the various regulations. We will also cover IPC efforts to help the industry prepare for RoHS including training, conferences, and compliance tools.

While the technical and performance issues related to the implementation of lead free solder are also numerous, our implementation section draws upon our strength as a technical, standards developing organization to give you the best information available including solder selection, tin whiskers, laminate and other PCB material issues, and lead free components. Once again, we've also summarized some tools to help you including our peer-to-peer leadfree listserve, links to relevant IPC standards, and our broad conference and training offerings.

Finally, in our environment section, we summarize attempts to assess the environmental and human health issues surrounding tin lead solder and lead free solders in electronics.