Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations

The Headlines at a Glance: 

TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK 

• IPC Earns Federal Recognition for Apprenticeship Standards

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

• John W. Mitchell on Federal Recognition of IPC’s Apprenticeships Standards  

ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND SUSTAINABILITY

• Proposed EPA Rule to Restrict Trichloroethylene Use

EUROPEAN UNION

• Deadline Nears for Comments on European Reporting Requirements

INDIA

• India’s $2.3B Electronics Manufacturing Initiative Attracting Investments

TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN

• Dept. of Defense Awards $39.9M to Calumet for Substrate Work
• New York State Announces Support for New TTM UHDI Facility

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Unpacking the TSCA PFAS Reporting Rule – Impacts on the Electronics Sector
• IPC Day EMS 2023: Where Have All the Orders Gone
• PFAS: Global Regulations, Restrictions, and Alternatives, Dec. 5
• Global Chemicals Management for Electronics 2023, Dec. 6-7
• IPC WinterCom 2024: Barcelona, Jan. 22-25

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TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK

U.S. Department of Labor Approves IPC Apprenticeship Standards: On Wednesday, IPC President and CEO John W. Mitchell was hosted by Megan Baird, Deputy Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), for a signing ceremony to recognize IPC’s National Program Standards of Apprenticeship. These standards are the first in the electronics industry to be approved on the federal level, recognizing our industry’s need for more skilled workers and IPC’s leadership in workforce training. IPC is now authorized to register with each state’s Eligible Training Provider List, which means companies can begin implementing apprenticeship programs that meet national standards and are eligible for public funding support.  Read more in this IPC Blog and learn how your company can get involved. IPC contact: Cory Blaylock.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The Department of Labor’s endorsement of IPC’s apprenticeship standards will help foster a larger, more skilled, and more diverse workforce. We are excited about the positive impacts on workers, their communities, and the electronics manufacturing industry.” –  Dr. John W. Mitchell, IPC President and CEO, regarding the U.S. government’s recognition of IPC’s National Program Standards of Apprenticeship.

ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND SUSTAINABILITY

U.S. EPA Proposes New Rule on Trichloroethylene (TCE): On Oct. 31, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a risk management rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that would prohibit the import, manufacture, processing, and distribution of trichloroethylene (TCE), a chlorinated solvent. The rule would also cover the use and disposal of TCE or products containing it, as well as mandate recordkeeping requirements and workplace safety standards. The EPA is proposing the rule to address “the unreasonable risk of injury to human health” from TCE. Prohibited applications would include the industrial and commercial use of TCE in naval electronics systems as well as cleaning practices that require open-top and closed-loop batch vapor degreasing and aerosol spray degreasing. Compliance would start one year after publication of the final rule; however, there would be longer timeframes for phasing out some industrial and commercial uses, such as on naval vessels. Comments on the proposed risk management rule are due on or before Dec. 15. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

EUROPEAN UNION

Deadline Nov. 28 for Comments on Reporting Requirement Reductions: As part of the 2024 Work Programme, the European Commission is seeking comments through Nov. 28 to identify reporting requirements that can be removed or rationalized without undermining policy objectives. The comments are sought in relation to the programme’s objectives to reduce reporting requirements by 25% to improve the European Union’s global competitiveness. IPC is submitting comments, and we welcome your input. IPC Contact: Alison James.

INDIA

India’s $2.3B Electronics Manufacturing Initiative Attracting Investments: On Nov. 3, Intel announced a partnership with eight electronic manufacturing companies (EMS) and original design manufacturers (ODM) to build complete entry-level laptops in India, a move that aligns with the government’s efforts to build out the country’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem and digital economy. As the world moves to diversify the global supply chain to mitigate the impact of disruptions from natural disasters and geopolitics, India has earmarked major incentives to build out the country’s electronics manufacturing capabilities. The $2.3 billion (Rs 17,000 crore) in incentives for local manufacturing is expected to create more than $73 billion in manufacturing activity over six years. “[Intel’s announcement] aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to drive India’s Digital Economy to $1 trillion and enable the electronics manufacturing ecosystem to contribute $300 billion by 2025-26,” said Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT. Read more about the announcement.

TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN

Defense Department Seeds Calumet Substrate Work: The U.S. Department of Defense this week awarded $39.9 million to IPC member Calumet Electronics through the Defense Production Act Investment Program to produce high-density build-up (HDBU) substrates. The award follows the state of Michigan’s announcement providing incentives for Calumet’s new IC substrate factory, the first in the United States. The DOD award, a good first step for the industry in the U.S., will enable Calumet to scale up engineering, tooling, and manufacturing operations to establish domestic production capabilities for HDBU substrates. Read more about the announcement.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Unpacking the TSCA PFAS Reporting Rule – Impacts on the Electronics Sector: Webinar, noon-1 pm EST, Nov. 29. Ryan Carra and Russ LaMotte from law firm Beveridge & Diamond will provide an overview of the new one-time EPA reporting rule on PFAS under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The presentation will address what the rules requires, some of the areas of remaining ambiguity, and strategies to address the obligations and navigate those ambiguities. Registration is free.

IPC Day EMS 2023: Where Have All the Orders Gone: Tallinn, Estonia, 9 am-7 pm CET, Nov. 30. A one-day conference hosted by the Estonian Electronics Industries Association, the seminar will feature discussions on the latest business and technology trends, and challenges, as well as showcase the capabilities of the European and Estonian electronics industry throughout the value chain. Registration is free.

PFAS: Global Regulations, Restrictions, and Alternatives: Virtual, Dec. 5. Presented by Chemical Watch, this one-day conference will address the latest regulatory developments around per- and polyfluoroalkyl and share advice on how to respond, including discussions about the rising market for PFAS-free alternatives. Registration is ₤495.
 
Global Chemicals Management for Electronics 2023: Virtual, Dec. 6-7. Presented by Chemical Watch, this two-day conference will provide an in-depth focus on regulatory updates and practice for the management of chemicals in electronics. On Dec. 6, Kelly Scanlon will moderate a panel on regulatory developments in the Americas and on PFAS, Dec. 7. IPC members receive a 15% discount on registration. E-mail events@chemicalwatch.com for more information.

IPC WinterCom 2024: Barcelona, Spain, Jan. 22-25, 2024. A new event to support IPC standards development committees in face-to-face sessions, WinterCom 2024 will convene colleagues from around the globe for a week of meetings. The event is free to both IPC members and non-members with an interest in IPC standards development. Register today!

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IPC is proud to announce that the U.S. Department of Labor has approved our National Program Standards of Apprenticeship – the first-ever in the U.S. electronics manufacturing industry – in a move that will help to expand the skilled workforce available to our industry. The recognition was bestowed yesterday during a ceremony at DOL headquarters in Washington, D.C., marking National Apprenticeship Week, Nov. 13-19. This was the culmination of a dream and months of hard work by the IPC Education team and our partners, including the Institute for American Apprenticeships at Vermont HITEC Inc.		“EMS and PCB industries need an advocate in Europe and that is IPC’s role.” IPC’s Sanjay Huprikar, president, Europe and South Asia operations, talked to Trevor Galbraith, Global SMT & Packaging, on Tech Talk Live from productronica. Their wide-ranging discussion touched on workforce challenges, IPC’s participation in the European CHIPS Act, the importance of sustainability in electonicsmanufacturing, and the difference between U.S. and European contract manufacturers.  Watch the full interview here: https://hubs.li/Q02918_T0

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US 

Meet the IPC GR Team: Whether it is engaging with policymakers in the Americas, the European Union, or Asia, 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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