The European Directive On Restriction Of Hazardous Substances (RoHs) Is Reshaping International Business Practices

Course Covers New Regulations in Europe for Six Hazardous Substances Used In Electronics and Other Common Household Products

IRVINE, Calif. – March 14, 2006 – By July 2006, all manufacturers of electronic and electrical equipment sold in Europe must comply with the European Union’s Restrictions of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive which mandates the reduction of six hazardous substances. UC Irvine Extension is offering a one-day special seminar entitled “Understanding the European Directive on Restriction of Hazardous Substances” on Thursday, April 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the UCI Learning Center in Orange, Calif. The course will instruct individuals how to comply with the standards, as well as provide information on the complementary regulation to RoHS, the Waste from Electrical Equipment (WEE) Directive.

“For companies doing electronics business in Europe, there is a complex system of regulations that must be complied with,” said Rogelio C. Rodriguez, director of engineering and science programs at UC Irvine Extension.

The six substances covered under the RoHS mandate are lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated biphenyl ethers. While RoHS has immediate ramifications in Europe, it is expected that similar directives will be adopted in markets worldwide, especially in the medical and telecommunications industries. Other industries that will be affected include appliance manufacturers, toymakers, consumer electronics, toolmakers, monitoring and control instruments, medical devices and the makers of lighting equipment. Those responsible for complying with the directive will include manufacturers, sellers, distributors and recyclers of electric and electronic equipment containing these six hazardous substances.

Dean Halwani, M.S., seminar instructor, is the Environmental Health and Safety Manager for Spartech Plastics and has in-depth experience in the manufacturing, industrial, civil, quality system and environmental health and safety fields. His areas of expertise include the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS), the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System and Management System Integration. Halwani is a certified ISO 14001 Environmental Auditor with RABQSA and is a certified ISO 9001 Quality System Auditor.

“It has become increasingly difficult for manufacturers of electronic and electrical equipment to remain competitive in the European marketplace,” said Halwani. “Compliance with these standards is essential for any company that hopes to sustain itself in this changing marketplace.”

UC Irvine Extension’s special seminar on RoHS is designed with engineers and engineering management in mind, but will also be of interest to product designers, project managers, and environmental, safety and health professionals. The seminar is a half day of lecture and discussion. Seminar materials will be provided at the start of the class.

As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities. For more information about UC Irvine Extension visit www.extension.uci.edu.