‘China RoHS’ and REACH were the topics of the recent SEMI-ASML Seminar, which took place at ASML Headquarters in Veldhoven (The Netherlands) on 23 January. All of the 40 registered attendees attended.

Raising awareness of the anticipated impacts of China RoHS and REACH on the semiconductor industry was the aim of this one-day seminar as China RoHS will have to be implemented from March 1, 2007 and REACH will enter into force on June 1, 2007. While highly impactful in themselves, these two laws only typify an on-going wave of legislation and regulatory action around the globe addressing chemicals.

China RoHS is the Chinese regulation that will be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, from March 1, 2007 a long list of “electronic information products, (EIP)” which includes much semiconductor manufacturing equipment, components and materials will need to be labeled; and in the second phase, at an unspecified future date, an initial subset of EIP items will be required to undergo pre-market certification as well as meet restrictions on the use of same six substances that are the subject of the European Union’s ROHS Directive. REACH is the European regulation that will reshape ‘Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals’ requirements on both new and existing chemicals, and move much of the burden for implementation from governments to chemical manufacturers and users.

For links to further information about both pieces of legislation, click here. For more information about SEMI EHS activities in general, click here.

Dr. Meinders, Department Manager, Philips Environement and Safety provided an overview of China RoHS, and highlighted the differences between EU RoHS, in force since July 1, 2006, and China RoHS.

Bert Planting, Products Safety Engineer at ASML, presented a case study of ASML’s approach to China RoHS implementation, highlighting the uncertainties still inherent in understanding the labeling provisions of China RoHS, as well as the cross-functional effort needed to comply.

Catherine Jakus, Regulatory Affairs Phd. at JSR Micro, explained how REACH will also affect equipment suppliers since some substances in any equipment, whatever the quantity used, may need to be submitted for registration and authorization. Also, since the intended use of the substance is taken into consideration, a dialogue along the whole microelectronic supply chain is highly required for compliance.

• SEMI EHS Activities and Update on the EU RoHS Directive
  Vincent Dubois, Sr Manager, Legal Affairs and PR
  SEMI Europe
• The China-RoHS legislation: description of main features
  Dr. H C Meinder, Department Manager
  Philips Environment and Safety
• Implementing China-RoHS: the case of ASML
  Bert Planting, Product Safety Engineer
  ASML
• Implementing REACH: a practical guidance for materials and equipment manufacturers
  Catherine Jakus, Regulatory Affairs Phd.
  JSR Micro

Vincent Dubois
Tel: 32 2 2896495
vdubois@semi.org

Pierre Lucas
Tel: 32.2.2896492
plucas@semi.org

Sanjay Baliga
Tel: 1.408.943.6957
sbaliga@semi.org