Throughout the electronics industry, the desire for lead-free electronics is an issue. Customers and manufacturers are asked to ensure that products comply with new regulations in Europe, the US and Far East.

• In Europe, a draft EU directive on Restrictions on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) required the elimination of lead in electronics, in all but special applications, by July 1st, 2006
• In the United States, laws banning or restricting the use of lead are already in place for many products and there is an increasing demand for a total ban
• In Japan, electronic waste and recycling laws oblige manufacturers to eliminate or recover their waste products containing lead

As a strategic supplier to customers who have taken the initiative to eliminate or reduce substances that will impact ecosystem, SMSC has partnered with suppliers who have demonstrated that they conform to the European Union directives mentioned above as well as to China RoHS. In detail we addressed the following issues:

• Forward compatibility - ensuring that lead-free products meet requirements, offering compatibility with both lead-based and lead-free solders/PCBs
• Backward compatibility - ensuring that current products can be used with lead-free technologies
• Qualification of lead-free products - a product portfolio with lead-free solutions that meet industrial standards
• Reliability - the ability of our ICs to cope with the higher temperatures of lead-free manufacturing/assembly processes, and ensuring the reliability of solder joints using lead-free materials