In SX Microcontrollers, SX/B Compiler and SX-Key Tool, George Herzog wrote:

RoHS are required for export to the EU as of July 2006.  

They require lead-free solder and a bit of a higher temperature for soldering.  It seems that this is not a big deal in terms of the SX packaging as the epoxy covering is quite durable.

I guess for Asia, RoHS won't become an issue until sometime later.  Being the manufacturing hub of most of these things, they probably prefer to lag behind in compliance as they generally have backlogs of old production runs that are perfectly useful, but not leading edge technology.  They also have quite a bit of the older manufacturing technology that remains useful and profitable.

Economic realities are not quite the same as new regulations.

It is quite convienent for the Asian manufactures to dump their out of date and less sucessful products in Asia.  Consumers are often less well informed as the language barrier keeps them a bit behind in understanding high tech innovations.  Still, they have inventors and educators that do lead the world, but these are isolated individuals, not the buying public.

I don't think you will see an immedate disappearce of lead solder and all that is related.  In some ways, the new solder might be neater.  Apparently it doesn't pile up as high, so you use less and your boards are not as likely to have solder bridges.

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