Dear IPC Members:

July is winding down, but government policy action is in full swing across the globe. This week brought significant updates to the global push for strengthened PFAS restrictions. Your voice on this issue is critical to our industry, and we welcome any insight you may have.

Meanwhile, here in the U.S., stay tuned for upcoming advocacy opportunities surrounding IPC’s push to increase support for electronics manufacturing within tech and competitiveness legislation being debated in the U.S. Congress.

And if you’re looking to hear from experts that are doing innovative eco-design work, join IPC and INEMI next week on July 27 for a discussion on eco-design for a circular electronics economy. Register here.

Please send us a message if you have any insight on what you think governments should be doing to support our industry’s long-term growth and evolution. Your input is greatly appreciated.

All the best,

Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations

TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK

Prepare for Potential PFAS Action in Europe: On July 15, five EU countries announced they would be submitting a restriction proposal that would ban the manufacture, sale, and use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). The group intends on releasing a formal restriction proposal by 2022. Please let us know if your company or your products would be affected by this possible PFAS restriction. Also see ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH” below for the latest PFAS news in the United States. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

What are the Best Practices for Eco-design? Virtual, July 27. Join the International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI) for the final webinar in a three-part series on eco-design for a circular electronics economy. The series is your opportunity to learn from eco-design leaders about the best and most innovative practices used today. Register for the webinar here. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

IPC ADVOCACY AND YOU

Help IPC’s Advocacy Team Help You! U.S. members of IPC: Please take a minute to visit our online action center and register to participate in upcoming campaigns to educate the U.S. Congress on our key issues. It’s fast, easy, and important. Thanks! IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Defense Spending Bill Includes $7.5 Million in Lead-Free Funding: On July 13, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved a $706 billion defense spending bill for FY 2022, including $7.5 million sought by IPC to reduce U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) reliance on lead-based electronics. To date, the U.S. Congress has provided a combined $15 million for this research and development (R&D) in FY 2020 and FY 2021. In a challenging budget environment, the House figure signals ongoing congressional interest in funding this R&D project through completion. More details are available in this December 2020 IPC Blog post. We will keep you posted and welcome your questions and suggestions. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH

New EPA Rule to Require Reporting and Recordkeeping on PFAS: On June 28, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rule that would require all manufacturers and importers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to report information regarding the “uses, production volumes, disposal, exposures, and hazards” of the chemical substance. PFAS has a history of use in electronics, and IPC will be preparing comments in response to this proposed rule during the 60-day comment period. Please let us know if you have any questions or thoughts about how this will affect your business. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Maine Enacts First U.S. Ban on PFAS: On July 15, Maine enacted a strict ban on products made with “intentionally added” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals.  The law, a first in the United States, imposed a 2030 deadline to eliminate most uses of PFAS in products. The law will also require companies to notify regulators of products they sell in Maine that contain PFAS, including the purpose and use of each substance. Let us know if this law will affect your business. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Feedback Needed on ELV Directive Revisions: The European Commission is currently reviewing the End-of-Life (ELV) Directive to identify new opportunities to address circularity and extended producer responsibility, and the management of electronics is expected to be addressed. The directive, which aims to make the dismantling and recycling of ELVs more environmentally friendly, is set to revised by the end of 2022. The public consultation on the revision ends October 26. Please let us know if you or your company would be affected by changes to the directive, and let us know if you have any input. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Saudi Arabia Publishes RoHS Regulation: On July 9, Saudi Arabia issued its long-awaited Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulation, and electronics manufacturers will want to take note. The regulation aims to restrict the use of hazardous substances in electronics components and equipment and to determine “conformity assessment procedures” to ensure environmental and human health safety. Suppliers will have until January 5, 2022 to comply with the regulation. Let us know if you have any questions. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Taiwan Seeks to Address Handling of Hazardous Chemicals: On June 14, the Taiwan Ministry of Labor (MoL) announced it intends to revise legislation on the handling of priority management chemicals (PMCs). The proposed changes aim to categorize the hazardous properties of PMCs and would tighten handling requirements on chemicals that may pose a risk to human health. The consultation period will end on August 16. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

EUROPEAN UNION

Europe Unveils Major Policy Package to Address Climate Change: On July 14, the European Commission presented a climate policy package aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by 55% by 2030. The package, known as “Fit for 55,” includes several legislative proposals to achieve climate goals set forth in the European Green Deal. The package also included a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) proposal, which would implement a levy on carbon-intensive products imported into Europe. IPC will be looking closely at how this measure affects our industry, and we welcome your input. IPC Contact: Alison James.

EC Launches Alliance Aimed at Boosting Manufacturing Capabilities: On July 19, the European Commission launched a new industrial alliance to advance the design and production of advanced microchips. The alliance, called the Industrial Alliance for Processors and Semiconductor Technologies, will seek to help the European Union strengthen its “digital infrastructures, products and services” while also increasing its share of the global semiconductor production. IPC will continue to work with the commission to advocate for a holistic approach to the electronics manufacturing ecosystem and will identify new opportunities stemming from the launch of the alliance. IPC Contact: Alison James.

TAX, TRADE, AND SUPPLY CHAIN

“Biden’s Promising Bid for Strong Supply Chains Risks Falling Short”: “Without a robust electronics manufacturing supply chain that supports systems-level manufacturing, the best chips in the world won’t offer the industry the resiliency, security, and innovation the American people want.” In a recent opinion piece for Roll Call, IPC President and CEO John Mitchell warned that by focusing solely on the chip shortage, wider problems in U.S. electronics manufacturing are being ignored. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

EU Issues Guidance Addressing Forced Labor in Supply Chains: The European Commission recently published a guidance to help businesses address the risk of forced labor in their operations and supply chains. The guidance outlined the “practical aspects of due diligence” and came ahead of an upcoming corporate sustainable governance (CSG) proposal, which will introduce mandatory due diligence obligations. IPC is continuing to engage with European Union policymakers to ensure that the legislation, expected in late 2021, is feasible and minimizes the administrative burden for our member companies. Let us know if you have any questions. IPC Contact: Alison James.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Global Electronics Summit: Virtual, September 21–23. Join ChemicalWatch and IPC’s Kelly Scanlon as she covers the EU’s sustainable products initiative on Day 2 of the conference. Additional key topics include REACH restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), ECHA’s Substance of Concern in Products (SCIP) database, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and other U.S. regulations, flame retardants, and more. IPC members are eligible for a 20% registration discount; register here. Contact Kelly Scanlon for a discount code.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US

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. But our success depends on your support and engagement. Learn more and get involved in IPC advocacy today! IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

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