IPC Global Advocacy Report
9/4/2020

Dear IPC Members:

As the Labor Day holiday weekend approaches in the United States, IPC is not resting yet! 

IPC President and CEO John Mitchell had two powerful opinion pieces published this week, one on the need for U.S. policy makers to do more for the electronics manufacturing industry, and the other calling for increased U.S. participation in international standards organizations. I urge you to read these pieces if you have not done so already. (See the summaries below.)

Meanwhile, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected today to make two major announcements of interest to our industry. And there are several ongoing opportunities to share your input with decision-makers, including on U.S. government regulations, potential PFAS regulations, the upcoming U.S. elections, and more. We want to hear from you!

If your company is still struggling with questions about worker safety and support amid COVID-19, check out the IPC resources mentioned below and register to join our virtual briefing on Wed., Sept. 9.

From all of us here at IPC, please have a safe, restful Labor Day Weekend!

Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations


TOP OF THE WEEK

“We Are to Blame for The U.S. Manufacturing Decline:” “For more than three decades, the United States government has prioritized globalization while deprioritizing the strength and resiliency of its industrial base,” writes IPC President and CEO John Mitchell in a new op-ed in The Hill. “U.S. electronics manufacturing is a case in point and has, in many ways, been hollowed out by our collective inaction and short-sighted decision making.” Policy makers need to “go beyond stimulus checks” and do more to “help American electronics manufacturers to compete on the global stage they once dominated.” IPC Contact: John Mitchell.

The World Needs U.S. Leadership in Setting Technological Standards: IPC President and CEO John Mitchell writes: The global dominance of U.S. industry is “weakening amid the rise of international competition hungry to take advantage of a distracted U.S., flat-footed and mired in partisan political infighting.” In contrast to the current trend, IPC believes “America should seize the mantle of leadership” and do more to “help shape the future of global technology standards.” Read the full op-ed in Nextgov. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

EPA Releases Final List of Companies Subject to Chemical Fee: On September 4, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final list of businesses subject to fees for the 20 high-priority substances listed under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Fees Rule. Changes have been made since the preliminary list was released on January 27, which IPC wrote about in a February blog. Businesses identified on the final list must notify the EPA regarding their intention to form or join consortia to pay fees that defray the costs of risk evaluations. Fee payments are required 120 days after the final list is released, although the EPA may incorporate flexibility into the payment schedule. Let us know your questions, concerns, and suggestions about the TSCA fee obligations. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Share Your Experiences with U.S. Government Regulations: Your company has an opportunity to share your experiences with U.S. Government regulations – positive or negative – as part of an ongoing study by members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Simply click here to answer the survey conveniently and privately online. IPC will compile and submit our members’ responses, and we can include or omit your identifying information as you wish. Please submit your information by close of business Wednesday, September 9. We want to hear from you! IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.

 

DEFENSE

Annual Defense Policy Bill Includes Green Chemistry Provisions: The U.S. Senate has taken action aimed at reducing the use of hazardous substances by including a “sustainable chemistry” bill in the latest annual defense policy bill. The National Defense Authorization Act, passed by the Senate in July, included the Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2019, authored by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE). This bipartisan legislation aims to encourage the “development of new and innovative chemicals, products and processes with an improved environmental footprint through efficient use of resources, reducing or eliminating exposure to hazardous substances, or otherwise minimizing harm to human health and the environment,” according to a release from Sen. Coons. Let us know what you think. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

ICYMI: House and Senate Pass Pro-Electronics Measures in Defense Bills: The U.S. House and Senate recently passed separate versions of the annual National Defense Authorization Act, both including provisions of significant interest to our industry:

  • New requirements for bare and assembled printed circuit boards (PCBs) and printed circuit board assemblies used in sensitive defense systems to be purchased from trusted U.S. or allied sources;
  • An IPC-backed measure requiring the Defense Department to analyze certain materials and technology sectors – including PCBs and other electronics components – for possible action to address sourcing and industrial capacity risks; and
  • Funding and tax credits to strengthen domestic semiconductor production.

House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders are currently in negotiations to iron out differences between the two bills. Meanwhile, a spending bill recently cleared by the U.S. House includes funding for lead-free electronics research and development that IPC has sought; the Senate has yet to act on its version. IPC will continue to advocate for measures to shore up supply chains for electronics related to essential governmental functions including defense. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

 

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE

IPC Launches New Online Workforce Training Options: Do you have difficulties finding skilled production workers? Two-thirds of electronics industry companies do, according to a recent IPC study. To remedy this problem, IPC has launched all-new IPC Electronics Workforce Training courses to help our members and their employees. Check out the news release for more information, and to view the expanded course catalog, visit https://training.ipc.org.

 

ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY

EPA Takes Next Step on TSCA Risk Evaluations: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today (September 4) released the final scope documents for the risk evaluations of 20 high-priority substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). These documents will outline a three-year process for determining unreasonable risk for various conditions of use of high-priority substances. IPC has already engaged with the EPA during the review period for the draft scope documents on Tetrabromobisphenol A and formaldehyde, and we will be reviewing all of the final scope documents to determine their applicability to the electronics sector. We welcome your review and insights on the use of these chemicals. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Interested in Chemical and Product Regulations in Asia? Asia is home to several of the world’s largest nations and most dynamic economies, with many governments in the region having established comprehensive environmental, health, and safety (EHS) policy frameworks. Please check out these new white papers from IPC on evolving chemicals regulations in Taiwan, Thailand, and Singapore. These papers provide a detailed look at the history of the policies, recent regulatory updates, and the regulatory trends in the respective countries. Please check out this new IPC blog   for more information on the Asia-Pacific EHS policy landscape; let us know what you think! IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

China Releases New Guidance on Registration of New Chemical Substances: On August 17, the Chinese Ministry of Environment and Ecology (MEE) published the Guidance for Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (Draft Guidance), which will replace the current guidance under MEP Order 7 and take the next step towards implementing Measures on the Environmental Management of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order 12). Although MEE Order 12, which is set to come into effect on January 1, 2021, has some similarities to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Substances Control Act, “the Draft Guidance indicates that the lengthy checklist of data requirements for new chemical substance registration is still hazard-oriented and test-based, not risk-based,” according to reporting from the National Law Review. The deadline to submit comments to MEE regarding the Draft Guidance is September 6. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Does Your Company Use PFAS to Make Electronics? Regulators in the United States and the European Union are eyeing chemicals in the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) class. In July, IPC completed a screening study to gain a better understanding of the evolving policies shaping the production and use of PFAS. IPC needs you to review the preliminary findings from our screening study to confirm whether we accurately captured the uses of PFAS in electronics products and processes. Please send your feedback to Kelly Scanlon. For more information, check out IPC’s new blog on PFAS regulation.

IPC, Helping You Assess and Manage COVID-19 Risks at Your Workplace: As the coronavirus pandemic has persisted, IPC remains alert to the evolving science and policies, and last week we released new information aimed at helping our members assess and manage risks in the workplace. An updated IPC report answers questions we have received related to cleaning, disinfecting, and contact tracing. The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative also published a guide on how to mitigate the risk when disinfecting electronic equipment and assemblies. A shorter blog on the topic is here, and you can register for our next IPC briefing on the subject here. What pandemic-related issues are you struggling with? We welcome your questions and feedback. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Fundamentals of Conscientious Engineering: Last week, IPC Director of Environment, Health, and Safety Policy and Research Kelly Scanlon presented at a IPC Educational Foundation webinar on the topic of conscientious engineering. She spoke on the responsibility of electronics industry engineers to make informed decisions about the design, manufacture, use, and disposal of electronic components and products. IPC members are committed to environmental stewardship, recognizing that proactive efforts to prevent adverse impacts to human health and the environment can reduce or eliminate business risks and the need for compliance-driven activity. If you were unable to attend or have further questions about the evolving industrial practices, please let us know! IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

 

EUROPEAN UNION

Commission Begins Consultation on Environmental Impacts Initiative: Last week, the European Commission launched a public consultation for an initiative that will require companies to use standardized methods to confirm claims made about the environmental footprint of their products and services. According to the commission, the initiative, part of the Circular Economy Action Plan, seeks “to make the claims reliable, comparable and verifiable across the EU” and reduce “greenwashing,” in which companies provide “a false impression of their environmental impact.” The commission is expected to adopt the final legislative proposal in the second quarter of 2021. The feedback period is open until December 3. IPC Contact: Alison James.
 
EC to Launch Raw Materials Industry Alliance: This week, the European Commission officially announced a new industry alliance on raw materials as part of an “action plan” designed to secure Europe’s access to critical raw materials. The alliance, expected to formally launch later this month, will seek to increase the EU’s strategic autonomy in metals and rare earths used for batteries, electric and electronic devices, and more. Establishing a complete EU supply chain for raw materials like lithium is “seen as critical for the bloc’s digital and green transitions,” according to reporting from Euractiv. IPC Contact: Alison James.

EC Continues Work on Due Diligence Initiative: As part of its preparatory work on a mandatory due diligence legislative proposal, the European Commission recently released an “inception impact assessment” on the initiative, which seeks to help companies “better manage sustainability-related matters in their own operations and value chains in regards to social and human rights, climate change, and the environment.” You can share your feedback here. Meanwhile, the commission also conducted a study affirming that many companies face pressure to generate short-term shareholder value to the detriment of long-term investments, especially regarding sustainability. A formal legislative proposal is expected in early 2021. IPC will continue to advocate for the electronics industry throughout the legislative process; we welcome your input and questions. IPC Contact: Alison James.

 

TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN

IPC Participates in Electronics Town Hall on Reshoring: Relocating manufacturing facilities is not easy, fast, or in some cases even desirable. On September 1, IPC VP of Global Government Relations Chris Mitchell, along with other industry experts, discussed strategies for mitigating reshoring risks and other challenges faced by the electronics industry at an Electronics Town Hall hosted by Global SMT & Packaging. Mitchell opined that the West’s wariness of doing business with China is a long-term trend, exacerbated by COVID and the recent trade wars, and that the ongoing “decoupling” between the two economies is likely to continue no matter who is elected U.S. president in November. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

EU Trade Commissioner Resigns After Breaching COVID-19 Restrictions: On August 26, European Union trade commissioner Phil Hogan resigned following intense criticism for attending a golf event in Ireland that flouted coronavirus restrictions. In a statement, Hogan said the "controversy" was becoming too distracting and "would undermine" his work in the ongoing Brexit negotiations with the United Kingdom, according to reporting from CNN. Meanwhile, Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe affirmed that negotiations will continue under the leadership of chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, with the December 31 deadline fast approaching and no deal in sight. IPC Contact: Alison James.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

COVID-19: Best Practices for Assessing Workplace Risk Webinar: Virtual event, September 9, 2020. This webinar aims to answer some of the most challenging questions employers and employees are facing regarding worker safety and support. IPC will share best practices for assessing workplace risk for COVID-19 and we will provide resources and tools that you can use to help you navigate the current science and policy happenings. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

 

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