-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- design007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueLevel Up Your Design Skills
This month, our contributors discuss the PCB design classes available at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. As they explain, these courses cover everything from the basics of design through avoiding over-constraining high-speed boards, and so much more!
Opportunities and Challenges
In this issue, our expert contributors discuss the many opportunities and challenges in the PCB design community, and what can be done to grow the numbers of PCB designers—and design instructors.
Embedded Design Techniques
Our expert contributors provide the knowledge this month that designers need to be aware of to make intelligent, educated decisions about embedded design. Many design and manufacturing hurdles can trip up designers who are new to this technology.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - design007 Magazine
Germany Latest EU Country to Introduce Due Diligence Rules
June 22, 2021 | IPCEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
On 11 June 2021, the German Supply Chain Act was adopted by the German Parliament by a large majority, introducing binding human rights and environmental due diligence obligations for companies. After lengthy and difficult negotiations, the political groups found compromises on several key aspects of the law ranging from the scope of companies covered to the question of liability. The aim of the law is to foster responsible business conduct and remove illicit practices such as child labour from supply chains.
Once formally signed, the law will require large German companies as well as foreign companies with branches in Germany to identify and address human rights and certain environmental risks in their own as well as in their direct suppliers’ operations. While the due diligence obligation is limited to direct suppliers, companies will have to take measures if they are made aware of potential abuses in any part of their supply chain, for example via a complaint. Companies will have to regularly conduct a risk assessment, implement preventive measures where needed and annually report on their due diligence processes.
The due diligence duty builds on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Its thematic scope encompasses human rights and labor rights as expressed in ILO conventions as well as the following environmental conventions:
- The Minamata Convention on Mercury
- The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
- The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste
In case of violations, companies will face administrative fines of up to 800 000 EUR or two percent of annual revenue and potential exclusion from public procurement for up to three years.
The German Supply Chain Act does not create a liability regime for companies – an important aspect that was clarified in the political negotiations. It does, however, enable trade unions and NGOs to initiate legal proceedings against companies on behalf of victims.
The law will be implemented in two phases: from January 2023, companies with more than 3 000 employees will have to abide by the new rules; and as of January 2024 the threshold will be lowered to companies with more than 1 000 employees.
For Germany, the law presents a paradigm shift, away from voluntary CSR initiatives towards binding due diligence obligations. Several other Member States already have due diligence laws in place or are contemplating introducing such laws. In parallel, the pending EU proposal on Sustainable Corporate Governance (SCG) and Due Diligence legislation is expected in the second half of this year. With this pending proposal, the European Commission aims to create legal certainty across the Union by introducing a harmonized set of rules applicable across Member States.
IPC continues to engage with policymakers on this topic to advocate on behalf of the electronics industry for a framework that is feasible and workable for industry while protecting human rights and the environment.
Suggested Items
IDTechEx Examines the Opportunities for Wearables in Digital Health
04/19/2024 | IDTechExIDTechEx’s report, “Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence 2024-2034: Trends, Opportunities, and Outlook”, covers this ongoing trend in the consumer health wearables market and includes analysis of the opportunities and roadmap for biometric monitoring.
ZESTRON Welcomes Whitlock Associates as New Addition to their Existing Rep Team in Florida
04/19/2024 | ZESTRONZESTRON, the leading global provider of high-precision cleaning products, services, and training solutions in the electronics manufacturing and semiconductor industries, is thrilled to announce the addition of Whitlock Associates to its esteemed network of sales representatives.
IPC Bestows Posthumous Hall of Fame Award to Industry Icon Michael Ford
04/18/2024 | IPCIPC honored the late Michael Ford, Aegis Software, for his extraordinary contributions to the global electronics manufacturing industry with the IPC Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame Award at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. IPC’s most prestigious honor, the Hall of Fame Award is given to individuals who have provided exceptional service and advancement to IPC and the electronics industry. Ford, an industry leader and valued IPC volunteer, died suddenly in January 2024.
SEMI Applauds U.S. Chips Act Award for Samsung Electronics Facilities to Strengthen Domestic Semiconductor Supply Chain
04/17/2024 | SEMISEMI, the industry association serving the global electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, applauded the United States Department of Commerce’s announcement of a Preliminary Memorandum of Terms for an award under the CHIPS and Science Act to support the expansion of Samsung Electronics’ presence in Texas and the company’s development and production of leading-edge chips.
Northrop Grumman honors Calumet Electronics with Supplier Excellence Award
04/17/2024 | Calumet ElectronicsNorthrop Grumman Corporation has recognized Calumet Electronics during the company’s 2024 Supplier Excellence Awards for “exceptional performance and unwavering commitment to delivering with excellence.” Calumet is one of 70 suppliers recognized from across the globe. In its award category of “Supplier Strategic Excellence,” Calumet was honored alongside global corporations such as Amazon Web Services, Dell Technologies, and Eaton Corporation.