Talk to Suppliers About RoHS Compliance

The EU RoHS directive, also know as the "lead-free" directive, identifies six materials that must be virtually eliminated from electronic equipment before it's shipped into the EU after July 1, 2006. The materials include lead (Pb), hexavalent chromium (chromium IV), cadmium, mercury, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). These may be contained in semiconductors, package lead finishes, cables, switches, relays, plastic housings, CRTs, hardware (screws, nuts), lamps, PCBs, and more.