Exemption support for the RoHSUSA exemption request for lead in solders.

How to send this support letter (note it must be received by 10^th January 2007).

Firstly copy the section outlined below to your clipboard.

Next click on the e-mail address below (Note depending on your security set up you may have to use control click)

ENV-RoHS@ec.europa.eu

This should open an email to ENV-RoHS@ec.europa.eu - Now paste the support letter into the email, add your name along with company affiliation if you so require and hit send.

Alternatively, if you wish to send it by mail you can mail it to:

European Commission

DG Environment, Unit G.4 – Consultation Directive 2002/95/EC

B-1049, Brussels, Belgium.

The letter of support will be put onto the EU web site in line with their public disclosure policy.

Note: If you want to write a different letter, please use the same format from the title paragraph starting 15. All electronics assemblies etc through the next 5 bullet point questions and your answers . This is important since unless you specifically address these points I do not believe the application support will be valid

Support letter starts here----------------------------------------------------------

To: European Commission DG Environment

Dear Sir,

I am writing in support of exemption request #15 submitted by RoHSUSA:

15. All electronics assemblies using lead in solder.

• Do feasible substitutes currently exist in an industrial and/or commercial scale? None that are environmentally acceptable
• Do any restrictions apply to such substitutes? Potential for pollution of water courses with subsequent impact on aquatic life with commonly used silver bearing “replacements”.
• What are the costs and benefits and advantages and disadvantages of such substitutes? Not an issue
• Are there any negative environmental, health and/or consumer safety impacts caused by substitution which are likely to outweigh the environmental, health and/or consumer benefits thereof? Yes - typically as outlined in the data submitted by RoHSUSA the substitutes constitute between a 5 and 6 times increased environmental burden over lead containing solder.

• Please indicate a precise wording for this exemption. Lead in solders used for the purposes of forming an electrical interconnection

I believe that the lead in solders removal as legislated under the RoHS EU directive is environmentally damaging, and that the exemption applied for by RoHSUSA for an Exemption under ENV: Directive 2002/95 EC Article 5(1) (b) for lead in solders for all classes of solders in electronics on the grounds of increased environmental impact of alternative materials, is both valid and environmentally necessary

Unless this exemption is granted the environment will suffer as a result The environmental impact of not allowing this exemption are fully outlined in the support documentation supplied with the RoHSUSA request notably the US EPA report and the university of Stuttgart report both of which address the life cycle environmental impact of the replacements for leaded and unleaded solders.

------------------------------------Support letter ends here