Dear IPC Members:

Our advocacy work with the Biden administration is just beginning, and IPC has made our industry’s voice heard on multiple occasions within the past week. Stay tuned as we ramp up our outreach in the weeks ahead.

All the best,

Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations

TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK

IPC Calls for Increased Domestic Semiconductor Manufacturing: This week, IPC joined a multi-association coalition calling on the Biden administration to incentivize domestic production of semiconductors. The letter expresses support for the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act, which was enacted into law as part of FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and calls for funding semiconductor research and manufacturing initiatives. See the full letter for more details. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“To be competitive and strengthen the resilience of critical supply chains, we believe the U.S. needs to incentivize the construction of new and modernized semiconductor manufacturing facilities and invest in research capabilities.”
– A multi-association coalition letter on the need to strengthen U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and research.

IPC ADVOCACY AND YOU

Introducing IPC’s “The Art of the Possible” Podcast: Learn from global experts as they talk to IPC President and CEO John Mitchell about the smart factory, the future of manufacturing, and a broad range of issues affecting the electronics industry in IPC’s latest venture, “The Art of the Possible” podcast. Join us in exploring the Factory of the Future. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

Meet the IPC GR Team: Whether it’s engaging with policymakers in Washington, D.C., in the European Union or in China, the IPC Government Relations (GR) Team proactively seeks opportunities to educate, inform and influence policymakers on policies that spur innovation, growth and competition, while protecting human health and the environment. Learn more about us and get involved with IPC advocacy today!  IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

IPC APEX EXPO 2021 Offers Over 100 Future-focused Educational Opportunities: Changing technologies and government policies that affect the electronics manufacturing industry will take center stage throughout IPC APEX EXPO 2021, our annual conference, which will take place virtually March 8-12. Don’t forget to register; more information about the conference is available at www.IPCAPEXEXPO.org. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

IPC Urges DoD to Implement Pro-Electronics Provisions: On February 10, IPC sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin calling for the implementation of Section 841 of the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would bolster supply chain security for printed circuit boards (PCBs) and printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs). IPC looks forward to working with the Biden administration on strengthening the defense electronics industrial base and establishing a more robust supply chain for trusted and secure electronics. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

Passionate About Defense Electronics Issues? Get involved with the U.S. Partnership for Assured Electronics (USPAE)! USPAE is inviting electronics manufacturers and related companies to participate in its programs, which offer valuable opportunities to collaborate with industry peers and the U.S. Government on defense electronics challenges. Learn more and explore the active opportunities at www.USPAE.org, and follow them on LinkedIn.

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE

IPC Endorses National Apprenticeship Act: IPC welcomed the U.S. House’s passage of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, which would invest nearly $3.5 billion over five years to scale-up apprenticeship opportunities and expand them in in-demand industry sectors and occupations. The bill's passage would address one of the most difficult challenges facing the U.S. electronics manufacturing industry — a chronic shortage of adequately skilled workers. IPC will send a letter to Senate in support of the bill urging priority focus on electronics manufacturing. Read our full statement here. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY

Heads Up — Potential OSHA Emergency Standard on COVID-19: U.S. President Joe Biden on January 21 issued an Executive Order that aims to improve worker health and safety protections during the coronavirus pandemic. It is too early to know what specifics will flow from this action, but new regulatory requirements could arrive as soon as March 15. Here is what we know so far in this IPC blog; IPC will update you as this situation evolves. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

New Rules on PBTs in Effect: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final risk management rules to reduce exposure to persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals (PBTs) went into effect on February 5. Some of the PBTs listed have a history of use in the electronics industry. If these new rules will affect the electronics products that you manufacture, please let us know, and read this updated IPC blog for more information. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.
  
ECHA Completes SVHCs Roadmap: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has identified 211 substances of very high concern (SVHCs) that are now included on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) candidate list. The list is not finalized as more information for a “large proportion of screened chemicals” is needed to determine whether they are hazardous. See the highlights of the newly-released ECHA SVHC Roadmap here, and let us know if any of the listed chemicals affect your business. IPC Contact: Alison James.  
 
Industry Urges Changes to UK REACH: On February 9, a group of 25 industry associations and downstream user groups called on the United Kingdom government to adopt simplified regulatory requirements under UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). The letter proposed only requiring registration for substances of “major concern,” as opposed to the European Union’s approach of mandating registration data for every substance. IPC Contact: Alison James.  

Help Inform Workplace Limits on Lead: The European Commission is conducting an industry survey to analyze the health, socioeconomic, and environmental impacts of new occupational exposure limits for lead (Pb) and its compounds. Information collected, such as current exposure levels, risk management measures in place, costs associated with engineering controls, and cost-benefit data, will enable the commission to establish practicable, protective limits. IPC encourages those working with Pb to respond to the survey by the February 26 deadline. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Help IPC Review EU RoHS Directive: IPC is currently watching and engaging in the European Commission’s review of its Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive in electrical and electronic equipment, and we need your help. IPC welcomes electronics experts who are familiar with RoHS issues to lend their expertise to the exemption renewal process. Please contact Kelly Scanlon if you would like to join one of several working groups addressing Annex III exemptions. Read more about IPC’s review of the EU’s RoHS Directive here.

Interested in Chemical and Product Regulations in Asia? Thailand and China are the first countries to undergo an updated deep dive by our environmental, health, and safety (EHS) experts in 2021. These are just two of our nine white papers on the history of chemical regulations, current regulatory systems, and anticipated trends in the Asia-Pacific region. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

EUROPEAN UNION

EU Council Approves COVID-19 Recovery Fund: On February 11, the Council of the European Union approved the €672.5 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the primary component of the €750 billion Next Generation EU coronavirus recovery package. The funds will primarily help countries recover from COVID-19 and navigate the green and digital transformations. The European Commission plans to issue further guidance in April on the recovery fund’s borrowing and lending conditions. IPC Contact: Alison James.   

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