On the 4th November, members of the AFDEC organisation gathered for the second time this year to discuss and review progress with regard to the impending RoHS & WEEE legislation. Guest speakers were Paul Goodman form ERA Technology & Andrew Lunnon from the DTI.

Paul Goodman started the meeting by elaborating on the tests that ERA have been carrying out for the TAC, (Technical Advisory Committee), in order to establish functional test methods which can be used to confirm RoHS compliance in the future. He confirmed that components can be tested for the banned substances, but added that many of the test methods require specialised equipment, which is of course expensive. At the current time, ERA are assisting the TAC group with regard to the proposed exemptions. ERA has also recommended to the commission that information about RoHS and WEEE be freely exchanged between member states of the EEC.

Following on from Paul, Andrew Lunnon confirmed that there had been 210 responses to the latest draft regulations and that these are being assessed at the current time. Both Andrew and Paul were confident that the proposed permissible levels for each of the banned substances would be approved, and Andrew fully expects the legislation, (which will create 14 new offences), to be formalised and passed by the end of 2004.

Paul and Andrew expect that initially suppliers will need to provide evidence of 'Due Diligence' and a system of 'Self Declaration' by manufacturers will initially be accepted, though where the source is deemed unreliable or other doubts exist, then suppliers will be expected to implement further tests.