Retailers News Bulletin Produced by The Lighting Association - January 2009

Incandescent Bulb Phase out

As you may know the incandescent light bulb is being phased out over the next few years under a voluntary agreement between major retailers, the lighting industry and UK Government. The 150W phase out began in January 2008 followed this month with the 100W.

There has been a great deal of press activity during January this year initiated by a front page headline in the Daily Express on Wednesday 7th January. The article was full of misleading facts which has led to a flurry of similar articles and many TV and radio pieces.

In order to better inform our customers the following is a breakdown of the facts surrounding both the UK voluntary phase out and the forthcoming EU legislation. This information comes from The Lighting Association.

UK Voluntary Phase out.

As the title says this is a voluntary phase out and is NOT law. The phase out is backed by the British Retail Consortium, The Lighting Association, The Energy Saving Trust, Energy Retail Association and DEFRA. The aim is to save up to 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year by 2012 from UK electricity generation-the equivalent to the carbon emissions of a typical 1 Giga Watt coal fired power station.

Most major retailers have signed up to discontinue stocking incandescent lamps in a timed phase out as follows:

• By January 2008 retailers will cease to replenish stocks of inefficient (GLS) A-shaped incandescent bulbs of 150W and above.
• By January 2009 they will cease to replenish stocks of inefficient GLS A-shaped bulbs rated at 100W and above.
• By January 2010 they will cease to replenish stocks of inefficient GLS A-shaped bulbs rated at 60W and above.
• By January 2011 they will cease to replenish stocks of all remaining inefficient GLS A-shaped bulbs and 60W candle and golfball lamps (predominantly 40W and 25W A-shaped GLS bulbs and 60W candles and golfballs.
• By 31st December 2011 they will cease selling all remaining inefficient GLS A-shaped bulbs and 60W candle and golfball lamps (predominantly 40W and 25W A-shaped GLS bulbs and 60W candles and golf balls).

NB ‘GLS A-shaped incandescent bulb’ means ‘ordinary pearl light bulb’ in plain English…

European Union Phase out

Over the past year The Lighting Association has been heavily involved in discussions with both the UK Government and the European Commission concerning a forthcoming piece of EU legislation which will bring about a LEGAL BAN of incandescent light bulbs under the Energy Using Products (EUP) Directive.

Initially the EU wanted to ban just about everything except compact fluorescent lamps. The Lighting Association has fought hard to argue that domestic light fittings need a variety of different lamps and that clear filament lamps are the only option for certain types of luminaire such as crystal chandeliers. After months of lobbying the draft implementing

measure was passed in early December 2008 for the EU Parliament to vote on in the Spring of 2009. The result was a relatively positive one in so far as clear filament lamps will remain for a while and energy efficient halogen lamps are safe at least until 2016 (we expect LEDs to have made strong in-roads into the market by then).

It must be stressed that, at the time of writing, this EU law is still a draft and will not become law until the EU Parliament vote in the spring. It is very unusual for a measure to get this far and then be voted out so we fully expect this to become law by April 2009.

A brief summary of the proposed EU ban is as follows:

1. From September 2009 ALL non-clear domestic incandescent lamps for general illumination (i.e. NOT REFLECTORS - these will be dealt with in another EU proposal to be formulated during 2009) cannot be put on the market from September 2009. This means you may still sell your existing stock but you cannot replenish that stock. This means all opal and frosted lamps will, from September 2009, be CFLs. At the same time clear lamps of approx. 80W and above will be phased out and also lamps of Energy Class F and G.
2. In September 2010 clear lamps of approx. 65W and above will be phased out but energy efficient halogen (class B and C) will remain on the market.
3. In September 2011 clear lamps of approx. 45W and above will be phased out but energy efficient halogen (class B and C) will remain.
4. In September 2012 all clear lamps of approx. 7W and above will be phased out but energy efficient halogen (class B and C) will remain.
5. In September 2016 clear class C halogen will be phased out leaving only class B halogen on the market.

As it stands G9 and R7s linear halogen will remain but these are likely to be addressed under the next part of the legislation late in 2009. There is also an exclusion for special purpose lamps such as those used in domestic appliances.

More information on the next part of the legislation which will cover reflector lamps and luminaires will follow when we have it.

Attached is a document produced by the ELC (European Lamp Companies Federation) which addresses many common questions relating to CFLs. ( Link to PDF)

Neither The Lighting Association or any person acting on its behalf a)make any warranty or representation, expressed or implied with respect to the information contained herein; or b)assumes any reliability with respect to the use of, or damages from the use of this information.

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