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Press Release

FSB warns 20,000 businesses could fall foul of lead-free rules

2nd September 2005

The Federation of Small Businesses is working with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to warn that as many as 20,000 businesses across Northern Ireland and Great Britain could face huge costs complying with new EU rules that effectively ban the use of lead.

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulations ban the use of a number of metals in production processes. As a result a wide range of businesses in the electronics sector will be forced to overhaul their manufacturing systems.

The FSB is warning that firms could face bills totalling tens of thousand of pounds updating their machinery in order to comply with the rules, which come into force in August 2006.

Northern Ireland’s biggest business organisation is also critical of the guidance issued to businesses arguing that it is insufficient given the highly technical nature of the regulations.

Wilfred Mitchell, FSB Policy Chairman said:

“The FSB is working with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to reduce the number of small firms that will be adversely affected by the new rules. Scientists from the NPL will provide a free consultancy service to businesses at a series of seminars to be held in October”

“Many small businesses presume they are exempt from these rules when they are not. This is a big problem and the guidance from the government has been less than adequate.”

“We are concerned that small firms with limited funds will be forced to pay for costly changes to their manufacturing operations. These businesses need expert advice on the most cost- effective methods of complying with the new rules.”



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Federation of Small Businesses

Federation of Small Businesses

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