James Amano

The number of regulatory proposals, including restrictions on substances such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), that could hinder the semiconductor industry’s ability to continue manufacturing is increasing. The SEMI Environmental, Health Safety (EHS) Working Groups, composed of industry technologists from across the global supply chain, meet on a regular basis to share intelligence and develop strategies to earn exemptions and/or extensions from regulators to enable the industry to continue manufacturing the chips critical to our modern way of life.In addition to an EHS session each year at SEMICON West, SEMI also hosts a full-day EHS Summit annually. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, May 26 at SEMI Headquarters in Silicon Valley. Experts from AGC, Beveridge Diamond, Intel, Tokyo Electron, SEMI Public Policy Advocacy staff from Brussels and Washington DC, as well as other key industry leaders will address the EHS regulatory challenges facing semiconductor manufacturing in 2026 and beyond. Presentations will allow for questions, discussions, and planning for taking collective action to strengthen semiconductor manufacturing.  Tentative topics include:US regulatory landscape under second Trump Administration and global impactUS State-level legislationEurope: PFAS restriction, REACH restriction, packaging and packaging waste regulation, GENESIS Consortium, and more.PFAS recyclingStockholm ConventionEmerging regulations in AsiaSupply chain transparencyUS EPA Technology Transition Rule (HFC Phasedown)US EPA TSCA New Substances Risk EvaluationPlasticizers and flame retardantsMark your calendar to attend, network, and strategically prepare your company. Register today. EHS Summit LocationSEMI 673 South Milpitas Ave. Milpitas, CA 95035James Amano is Senior Director, EHS at SEMI

As the volume of regulations grows across all levels of government, both in the U.S. and abroad, the semiconductor industry is increasingly struggling to keep up with its reporting obligations. Potential consequences include shipments delayed by customs, existing stocks of materials, parts, and components unexpectedly being made obsolete, and disruptions to multiple tiers of the supply chain that persist over time.To minimize the burden of numerous, varied reporting expectations, the SEMI PFAS Transparency Working Group, led by Intel and Tokyo Electron, is working to:Enable standardized communication on the presence of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in chemical formulations, materials, tools, parts, and fab infrastructure to minimize the burden of varied reporting expectations;Enable traceability; andProtect confidential business information. While the initial focus of the effort is on PFAS, the intent of the group is for the methodology to be applicable to other substance reporting requirements.The group will be holding a working session at SEMICON West in Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday, October 8 from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon at the North Building, 200 Level, Room 229A of the Phoenix Convention Center. All segments of the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain are invited to join the meeting and contribute to this critical effort. This session is intended for individuals involved in: Data management and reportingSupply chain managementMajor business continuity planning and crisis managementRisk assessment and mitigationEHS/regulatory complianceSub-supply chain visibility challengesThe PFAS transparency effort will also be introduced during the SEMI EHS Summit and SEMI Global Standards Summit, both scheduled on Tuesday, October 7.For additional resources, download the PFAS Explainer or SEMI PFAS Position Paper. Contact [email protected] for questions or more information about the working group session.James Amano is Senior Director of EHS at SEMI.

The SEMI PFAS Initiative will accelerate industry efforts to reduce PFAS dependency, mitigate PFAS-related semiconductor supply chain disruption, and encourage environmentally responsible risk management in cases where there are no alternatives to PFAS.

The finalists will be invited to present at the Sustainability Pavilion during SEMICON West on Thursday, July 13, as part of a startup-focused program.

Building on the success of the first year of Startups for Semiconductor Sustainability to spur more green tech innovation, SEMI invites startups, academics, and innovators with compelling ideas for advancing semiconductor industry sustainability to apply to participate.

After launching Startups for Sustainability last year to help spur more green technology innovation, SEMI again invites all startups, academics, and innovators with compelling ideas for advancing semiconductor industry sustainability to apply to participate.

The SEMI European Machinery Directive Working Group, which consists of volunteers from SEMI member companies, is compiling member feedback on the Cyber Resilience Act legislation to ensure that the industry’s perspective is understood by EU legislators.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is authorized to extend the notification deadline by six months if it determines manufacturers need more time to comply. Companies can request to be added to the Maine Department of Commerce's letter requesting the extension.

SEMI welcomes members to join the Semiconductor Climate Consortium (SCC), a new effort to heighten collaboration and transparency in order to reduce chip industry greenhouse gas emissions.  Companies that commit to membership by October 21, 2022 will receive Founding Member designation.

SEMI formed the Sustainability Advisory Council (SAC), introduced at the Sustainability Summit at SEMICON West 2022 Hybrid in July. The group consists of more than 35 semiconductor industry companies that are collaborating to organize a net zero strategy to decarbonize in the industry.