Undoubtedly, you still have fixtures with traditional fluorescent lamps in your surroundings. Did you know that these lamps will soon no longer be available? This is due to the European RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive and the Ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2019/2020, which gradually prohibit the production and import of fluorescent lamps. We are now entering a crucial period as the ban on the most commonly used fluorescent lamps comes into effect this summer.

What is being banned and from when?

In the overview below, you can find the timeline for the different types.

In February 2023, the curtain fell for these types:

• TC CFL-ni: compact fluorescent lamps without integrated ballast
• Longlife LFL: long-life linear fluorescent lamps
• FL – R T5: circular T5 fluorescent lamps
• HS...: high-pressure sodium lamps of less than 105 Watts

It's getting serious!

Starting from August 25, 2023, T5 and T8 fluorescent lamps will also be banned. These are the typical linear fluorescent lamps with diameters of Ø16 mm and Ø26 mm, which are used in masses of fixtures.

From the end of August, these lamps will only be available while supplies last. And those supplies could be quickly depleted!

And what's next…

In September 2023, halogen lamps will also be banned. Then, in 2025 and 2027, some specialized types of fluorescent lamps and high-pressure discharge lamps will follow.

And what about emergency lighting?

In 2027, lamps for emergency lighting will also be banned from the market. However, this does not mean that you have a lot of time before taking action to switch to LED in emergency lighting. Many emergency lighting devices still use Nickel-Cadmium batteries (NiCd), and Cadmium will also be banned soon.

Why this ban?

By forcing the market to transition to LED lighting in this way, significant energy savings can be achieved. All of this fits into the European Green Deal, the EU's intention to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

In addition, the European energy supply faces a huge challenge in keeping a rapidly growing fleet of electric vehicles mobile. Add recent geopolitical events to the mix, and it becomes clear why it is a good idea to save energy.

How are these products being banned?

The ban on the production and import of fluorescent lamps is enforced through the RoHS Directive 2016/65/EU. This directive was established to control the waste stream of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). These products sometimes contain hazardous substances.

The RoHS Directive restricts the use of harmful substances, including lead, cadmium, and mercury, among others. The principle is that all products must comply with the restrictions unless they receive an exception. Fluorescent lamps contain mercury but had an exception. These exceptions will now expire according to the above timeline, effectively banning the products from the market.

Additionally, there is the Ecodesign Directive (EU) 2019/2020, which sets minimum requirements for the efficiency of light sources, thereby excluding a portion of products.

What now?

ETAP offers efficient solutions to smoothly transition from fluorescent to LED lighting. Our Refurbishment solutions are available for both emergency lighting and general lighting.

Here you can see how effortlessly and smoothly one can switch from fluo to LED, all without compromising visual comfort!

And for emergency lighting, it can often be even smoother: transitioning from fluo to LED is easier than changing a battery.