Dear IPC Members: Here in Washington, the 2022 election may be over, but there are plenty of legislative priorities that the U.S. Congress must address in the “lame duck” session, including funding the government beyond December 16; finalizing the annual defense authorization bill; and increasing the debt ceiling. It’s shaping up to be a busy end of year, and we will keep you informed as advocacy opportunities arise.

Meanwhile, there are a host of opportunities for you to make your voice heard on issues across the globe, like PFAS reporting requirements in Maine, climate disclosure requirements for U.S. federal contractors, and raw materials legislation in Europe. Please let us know if you have any questions. And as we approach the holiday season, please continue to stay safe and enjoy the time with your loved ones. As always, please reach out to your IPC Government Relations (GR) team to get involved or ask any questions about IPC’s advocacy activities. We’re here to help you. All the best, Chris Mitchell Vice President, Global Government Relations

The Headlines at a Glance: 

TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK 

• Electronics Industry Comments on CHIPS Act Incentive Program
• U.S. Election Results a Mixed Bag for Electronics Industry 

ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

• EPA Proposes Changes to TSCA Fees Rule
• Industry Seeks Extension on Maine PFAS Reporting Requirement
• Would GHG and Climate Disclosure Requirements Affect You?
• ECHA to Consider Restriction of Bisphenol A
• Singapore Restricts Import and Export of Hazardous Chemicals

EUROPEAN UNION

• EU Parliament Adopts New Reporting Rules
• Ending Soon: Commission Consultation on Raw Materials Legislation

TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN

• IC Substrates: Build It and They Will Come?

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US

TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK

  
Electronics Industry Comments on CHIPS Act Incentive Program: This week, IPC outlined how electronics manufacturing must can play a critical role in supporting the growth of the U.S. semiconductor industry in our comments to the U.S. Department of Commerce on the design and implementation of the CHIPS Incentives Program. Specifically, IPC called for USG to:

• Invest in advanced packaging ecosystem (IC substrates and package assembly and test);
• Invest in supply chain partnerships;
• Invest in high-density interconnects; and
• Invest in industry-recognized workforce programs

Let us know if you have any questions. IPC Contact: Ken Schramko.

U.S. Election Results a Mixed Bag for Electronics Industry: The U.S. midterm elections are now behind us, and the impacts on the electronics manufacturing industry are likely to be mixed. With Republicans narrowly retaking the U.S. House, and the U.S. Senate remaining in Democrat control, gridlock is expected on all but “must-do” items such as the annual appropriations bills and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). IPC’s legislative advocacy work for the next two years is likely to be geared toward proposing language in these must-pass bills and generating longer-term, bipartisan support of our industry. Let us know if you plan to be involved in IPC advocacy in 2023, and check out IPC's take on the legislative outlook here. IPC Contact: Ken Schramko. 

ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH

EPA Proposes Changes to TSCA Fees Rule: On November 16, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed rule that would significantly increase fees for EPA-initiated risk evaluations of existing chemicals under Section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Under TSCA, the EPA undergoes 20 to 30 risk evaluations each year, and even if the current list of chemical substances does not apply to your company, future lists may apply, and you may be obligated to pay at that time. The EPA will accept public comments on the proposed rule until January 17, 2023. Please let us know if you have any questions. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Industry Seeks Extension on Maine PFAS Reporting Requirement: According to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), exemptions and extensions to the state’s per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) reporting requirement will not be accepted until a final draft of the rule is released in April 2023. However, companies not granted extensions will still have to report their PFAS use in products beginning January 1, 2023. The deadline to sign onto the Maine Chamber of Commerce letter requesting an extension is November 28. IPC Contact: Suhani Chitalia.
 
Would GHG and Climate Disclosure Requirements Affect You? On November 10, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council released a proposed rule that would require federal contractors to disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The rule would apply to all contractors receiving more than $7.5 million in annual federal contracts, while contractors that exceed $50 million would be further required to set emission reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement. Comments on the rule are due by January 13, 2023. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

ECHA to Consider Restriction of Bisphenol A: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is currently considering a German proposal that would restrict the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenols of similar concern, which are found in epoxy resins and have utility in electronics. The ECHA will now evaluate the proposal and determine whether it conforms with the legal requirements of Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). Is BPA essential to your electronics-related manufacturing processes or electronics products? Please let us know. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Singapore Restricts Import and Export of Hazardous Chemicals: Singapore ’s National Environmental Agency (NEA) recently issued a notice to restrict the import and export of the following three chemicals: 

• Decabromodiphenyl Ether (DecaBDE); 
• Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its salts; and 
• Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and its salts. 

Moving forward, the chemicals and its compounds will be considered hazardous substances, which could affect products used in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. The restrictions for DecaBDE and PFOA and its salts went into effect on October 22, while the restrictions for PFHxS and its salts will take effect on June 17, 2023. IPC Contact: Suhani Chitalia. 

EUROPEAN UNION

EU Parliament Adopts New Reporting Rules: After much debate, the European Parliament recently adopted the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which seeks to strengthen the reporting requirements for sustainability information of certain large companies. Under the directive, large companies operating in the European Union will have to regularly disclose information on their societal and environmental impact. The European Council is expected to formally adopt the proposal on November 28. Read more about the CSRD and the implications for our industry in an April 2021 IPC blog. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Ending Soon: Commission Consultation on Raw Materials Legislation: The European Commission recently launched a public consultation on the European Critical Raw Materials Act, which will seek to reduce the EU’s dependency on imported raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths. The legislation, expected to be presented in 2023, will aim to strengthen EU supply chains while maintaining a sustainable, level playing field. The consultation is open until next Friday, November 25. IPC Contact: Alison James.

TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN

IC Substrates: Build It and They Will Come? A recent IPC report showed that electronics manufacturing industry leaders are likely to purchase domestically available, advanced IC-package substrates and IC-package assembly from U.S. suppliers if it were cost-competitive. Only 6% of industry leaders reported that they would not buy cost-competitive advanced IC substrates if they were available from U.S. suppliers. Delve deeper into our report on advanced packaging technologies and let us know if you have any questions. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA

“We’re excited about the possibilities of ‘IPC Community’ taking our ability to disseminate timely and important information and ensuring that IPC members’ voices are reflected within the magazine." IPC Vice President of Marketing, Member Success, and Sales Brian Knier comments on IPC’s new magazine, "IPC Community," to be unveiled at IPC APEX EXPO 2023.		With the U.S. midterm elections behind us, IPC is looking forward to working with the incoming 118th Congress to bolster the U.S. electronics manufacturing ecosystem. Rebuilding the advanced electronics industry in the United States will require a long-term, sustained effort, and it is about more than just semiconductor chips. IPC continues to urge the U.S. government to embrace a “silicon-to-systems" approach.

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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