International Electrochemical Commission’s (IEC), the electronics industry organisation, is proposing a definition of “Low Halogen” for materials used in electronic and electrical products (proposal circulated 28/8/2015 refs. 111/383A/NP). This will complete the organisation’s existing definition of “Halogen-Free” IEC 61249-2-21 and is coherent with JEDEC JS709B (microelectronics industry organisation) definition of “Low Halogen” Electronic Products.
The stated objective is to respond to the concern to current confusion in the market because of varying vocabulary such as “Halogen Free”, “Low Halogen”, “Zero Halogen”, “Non Halogenated”, “Non-chlorine and Non-bromine”, Halogen Poor etc. IEC 61249-2-21 specifies for “Halogen-Free” materials limits of 900 ppm maximum chlorine, 900 ppm maximum bromine and 1500 ppm maximum total chlorine plus bromine (irrespective of whether halogens are of organic or inorganic origin or nature). JEDEC JS709B specifies for “Low Halogen” materials limits of <1000 ppm of bromine and <1000 ppm chlorine for halogens from flame retardants or PVC, but with higher levels of halogens allowed if they are from other sources. Consultation on 111/383A/NP is open to 2/10/2015
IEC 111/383A/NP Low Halogen Materials used in Electronic and Electrical Products http://www.iec.ch/dyn/www/f?p=103:30:0::::FSP_ORG_ID,FSP_LANG_ID:1314,25
JEDEC JS709B Definition of “Low Halogen” Electronic Products (June 2015). http://www.jedec.org/standards-documents/docs/js709b