Driving Forces:

• European Union has approved ban in the usage of Lead in the solder by July 1, 2006.
• Japanese Ministry of Industry and Trade Institute calls for the reduction in the use of lead by half in 2000 and two-thirds by 2005.
• State of California is currently restricting the importation, manufacture and sale of lead containing electronics.

Current situation:

• Europe
  • The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive prohibits the use of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB and PBDE in electronics beginning July 1, 2006
  • EU Directives on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) was amended in December 2003
    (ref: www.leadfree.org) 
• United States
  • Senate and House of Representatives
    • H.R. 2922 : Lead-based Paint Hazard Abatement Act of 1991
    • S.729 : Lead Exposure Reduction Act, 1993
    • S. 391 : Lead Exposure Reduction Act of 1991 (Reid Bill)
    • H.R. 3554 : Lead Exposure Act of 1992
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
    • Has taken regulatory action to remove lead from common consumer products such as gasoline, plumbing and paint products and impose strict management requirements on lead acid batteries to prevent disposal in the solid waste stream.
  • State Activities : No known legislation requiring the elimination of lead from electronics. Only California is currently restricting the importation, manufacture, or sale of lead containing electronics. (ref : www.leadfree.org)
• Japan
  • Japanese Legislation: There are no known laws, pending, or otherwise in Japan calling for reduction or elimination of lead in electronics.
  • Japanese Ministry of Industry and Trade Institute (MITI): Proposed in May 1998 take back (recycling) legislation. MITI calls for the use of lead to be reduced to half by 2000 and two-thirds by 2005. (ref : www.leadfree.org)