First Source Technology Ltd - RoHS and REACH Statements

 

 

RoHS

 

The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (2011/65/EU) aims to prevent hazardous substances from entering the production process and thereby keep them out of the waste stream.

 

First Source Technology Ltd, a distributor, supplies mostly RoHS compliant but some non-RoHS compliant products according to our customers’ requirements.

 

Our advice notes indicate whether we believe a part is RoHS compliant. As a distributor, we rely on information made available by product manufacturers (and other distributors) relating to product descriptions as RoHS compliant. Whilst we endeavour to obtain and provide reliable information, we do not warrant or guarantee product description or content and cannot be liable for a manufacturer’s or supplier’s act or omission or misleading product information.

 

 

REACH

 

REACH is a regulation of the European Union, whose stated objective is to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.

 

An important objective of the regulation is to encourage, and in certain situations, ensure chemicals of high concern are replaced with less dangerous chemicals, or eliminated. Parties in the supply chain must have sufficient information about the identity of their chemical substances; those ‘downstream’ in the supply chain, such as importers or distributors, are expected to gain information from those higher up the chain about substances and articles containing those substances.

 

The ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) is developing a Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs). There are currently over 160 substances on this list.

 

First Source Technology, being a distributor of electronic components and equipment, is considered a ‘supplier of articles’ and as such has a limited role in these new regulations. The electronic components that we distribute – primarily semiconductors, LCDs, passive and electromechanical products and computer peripherals – are defined as ‘articles’ in Article 3 of the REACH legislation. Since there is no intended release of substances from the products sold by us under normal or foreseeable conditions of use, we are not obliged to register with REACH. Substances used in the products supplied by us, or during their manufacture are at the discretion of the manufacturer, and the relevant requirements of REACH legislation remain with the manufacturer.

 

 We do, however, understand our responsibility to communicate SVHC information down the supply chain when it is provided by the manufacturer or their distributor from whom we purchase, and undertake to do so. We encourage our suppliers to declare SVHCs and adherence to REACH requirements.