1. This ban probably falls under the safety aspects of the Low Voltage
Directive which covers not just electrical risks from the use of electrical
equipment but also chemical and mechanical. Another risk is the amount of
and type of smoke generated in case of fire.
2. The European market has historically taken the leading approach towards
discouraging the use of halogenated flame retardants, (FR), such as PVC and
brominated substances. European suppliers have also pioneered zero-halogen
FRs. Many companies have have it in their specifications requiring their
suppliers to declare that their materials are non-brominated.
Halogenated FR are still widely used in North America especially for wiring
insulation because they are cheaper, can be processed using traditional
extrusion methods and more effective as flame retardants. I am afraid you
have to ask your supplier if you want to know if a particular component is
brominated or not.
Evangeline Cometa
Assistance to Exporters
CSA International
From: richwo...@tycoint.com [mailto:richwo...@tycoint.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 9:13 AM
To: emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org
Subject: EU bans certain flame retardants
I found the following announcement on the Commission's website.
European Parliament and EU ministers agree to ban potentially toxic flame
retardants
Enterprise Europe, Brussels, 18 December 2002 - The European Parliament
today unanimously agreed to ban the marketing and use across the EU of the
chemical flame retardants penta- and octabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE,
octaBDE), from 1 July 2004. This decision was taken in a conciliation
procedure after a careful risk assessment and in consultation with
stakeholders and Member State experts.
PentaBDE and octaBDE are used almost exclusively in flexible polyurethane
foam furniture and upholstery such as mattresses, sofas and armchairs.
PentaBDE and degradation products of octaBDE are bioaccumulating, have
been found in human breast milk, and pose risks to the environment.
The results of a further risk assessment on decabromodiphenyl ether
(decaBDE) should be available by mid of next year. Further decisions to
act on its results will take account of new scientific evidence, and the
availability of reliable substitutes.
I have two questions.
1) What Directive or other legal instrument does this ban fall under?
2) Can anyone state with a reasonable degree of certainty that these
substances are not used as fire retardants in wiring insulation and plastics
typically found in electronic equipment?
Richard Woods
Sensormatic Electronics
Tyco International
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