Vela Research, LP (Vela) has already eliminated or substantially reduced its usage of the materials prohibited under the RoHS Directive. We are committed to completely eliminating our usage of RoHS prohibited materials as that becomes technically feasible. The available components and manufacturing processes do not allow the complete elimination of the RoHS prohibited material lead (Pb) from our products. Lead (Pb) remains necessary for component attachment and custom component packages due to the current lack of viable alternatives for all applications.

Vela will comply with the European Union's Directive 2002/95/EC (“RoHS Directive”) on the Restriction of use of Hazardous Substances, by July 01, 2006. The following table lists the substances restricted under RoHS and their respective allowable limits:

As a result of the classification detailed in the Directive, our circuit board products are exempt from the RoHS Directive’s lead-free requirements only as far as the use of lead in solders (RoHS Directive Annex C, item 7: “lead in solders for network infrastructure equipment for switching, signaling, transmission as well as network management for telecommunication”). As a result, lead in solders may be used in Vela products sold after the RoHS Directive becomes effective.

Understanding the material content of our products is an integral part of our compliance process and requires cooperative effort with our suppliers. Vela bases its knowledge and belief of the material content of its products on information supplied by third parties. Vela’s efforts in obtaining full and accurate information is limited as a result of some third parties treating certain material as exempt or certain information as confidential and proprietary, or as a result of third party suppliers confining their statements concerning RoHS compliance to the best of their knowledge and belief, applicable only as of a certain date, or as not including component supplier information. 

 In accordance with the European Union's Directive 2002/96/EC (“WEEE Directive”) Vela has been marking Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).  Vela’s take-back process for WEEE can be initiated by either an online request form the website or through an RMA request from Customer Support. This directive is currently under review by the European Parliament.

As the regulations continue to evolve, Vela anticipates further amendments to the Directives, and therefore, Vela will continue to work to advance its environmental compliance process and promote environmental sustainability.