The new year has apparently only strengthened California’s resolve to set the pace on environmental initiatives in the United States. Following on the heels of the state’s

much-publicized greenhouse gas initiatives, California recently promulgated new regulations designed to address potential environmental threats from discarded or improperly recycled electronic products. The new regulations set limits for lead, chromium, mercury, and cadmium content of certain categories of electronic equipment sold in California. Starting in 2007, the sale of

some electronic devices containing these substances will be banned in California.

Who will be affected? Anyone in the world who makes video display devices with a diagonal screen size greater than four inches (Products) that are offered for sale in California. The regulations also cover retailers and many end users of affected Products.