News and New Products

Small Companies Still Unsure on RoHS

By Ben Musson -- Electronics Weekly, 7/18/2006

SMEs are still playing catch up on new RoHS legislation, despite the directive having gone live across Europe on July 1.

According to Mick Parker, product manager for RoHS at RS Components, basic questions are being asked too late.

"It’s been very low key throughout Europe. We are still getting enquires about RoHS – mainly from SMEs – and from places like Hong Kong and the U.S.,” said Parker.

“Those questions are the basic questions: ‘What is the RoHS directive?’ and ‘Can I continue using a non-compliant part?’ It does indicate that despite all the good information, SMEs are still playing catch up," concluded Parker.

On a brighter note, the recent scare over the accuracy of compliance declarations seems to have been unfounded.

"We seen a small number of corrections, but they are generally accurate," said Parker. Buyers, it seems, can trust the declarations, and the U.K. enforcer – National Weights and Measures Laboratory –  will accept use of these as part of a manufacturer's due diligence when designing for RoHS.

However, component availability is a problem, and some key components may not be available for months as companies concentrate on converting faster moving lines of products.

Parker also pointed to imports as an area of uncertainty. Importers, he said, may be required to show declarations at customs, but no-one is yet sure what will be required.

Electronics Weekly is the London-based sister publication of Electronic News.