From September 1, 2023, the Ecodesign Regulation will ban fluorescent lamps, which are subject to the EU Directive on the limitation of mercury and the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. This directive, RoHS (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment), was recently amended and now has consequences for the abolition and thus also for the availability of various lamps.
With the latest amendment to the RoHS directive, the exemption for the use of mercury has changed. In the area of general lighting, compact fluorescent lamps (without integrated ballast) and T5 round fluorescent lamps will be affected in a first phase from February 25, 2023. Six months later, from August 25, 2023, T8 and T5 linear fluorescent lamps will follow. The September 1, 2023 deadline of the Ecodesign Regulation for high-voltage halogen lamps (G9) and low-voltage halogen lamps (G4 and GY6.35) remains unchanged.
The expiry dates are as follows:
• the phasing out of halogen lamps with R7s sockets with an emission of more than 2700 lm from September 1, 2021;
• the phasing out of 18W, 36W and 58W fluorescent tubes with G13 lamp bases from September 1, 2023;
• the phasing out of halogen lamps with G9, G4 and GY6.35 sockets from September 1, 2023.