What is Ciscos position on the use of lead in products?
Lead has been used widely in the electronics industry, both in electronic and electrical components and also in lead-based solder. The RoHS Directive requires that the use of lead is phased out by the electronic industry and substituted with alternative materials. Some lead-free components have already been integrated into Cisco products, but reliable alternatives to lead-based solders have proven difficult to find for certain applications. The EU has recognized this issue and the RoHS Directive has included exemptions for a number of product categories. Cisco will exercise the network infrastructure exemption until lead-free alternatives are identified that meet the performance requirements of its products. Cisco continues to work with its suppliers to find reliable lead-free alternatives. Cisco will transition products to be lead-free over time as reliable lead-free technologies are developed and validated.