Request for renewal: Lamps for other general lighting and special purposes (e.g. induction lamps): 15 mg (Annex III n. 2(b)(4)-I; expires on 24 February 2025)

In general, gas discharge lamps produce light by passing an electric discharge through an ionised gas. In discharge lamps, a small amount of mercury (Hg) is intentionally added to produce the gas discharge. When an electric current flows through the lamp bulb, the mercury atoms inside are excited and produce UV radiation. In the case of fluorescent tubes in particular, this UV light passes through a fluorescent coating inside the lamp bulb glass and is thus converted into the desired spectrum of light (mostly visible light, sometimes with a higher proportion of invisible UV light) which is emitted by the lamp The exemption in Ex. 2(b)(4)-I covers a wide range of different lamp types with a mercury content of < 2 mg up to 15 mg. These are mainly very specialised niche products with small market shares. The lamps have a wide range of parameters (shape, factor, length, spectrum, colours and technologies) and are used in very different applications, including the medical sector (visible range and UV), industrial processes (e.g. coating, hardening, polymerisation), and agriculture, to name but a few. In principle, many of these lamps can be replaced by LED technology. However, substitution is more difficult depending on the application and environmental conditions: in some cases, the energy efficiency is lower, e.g. in the UV range, in some cases (due to the small market volume) there were no LED lamps available on the market for a 1:1 replacement, and in some cases, substitution was not possible due to technical guidelines or standards.

 

Documents of Applicant

> Original exemption request (LightingEurope)

> Original exemption request (NARVA Lichtquellen)


Results from previous evaluations

> Excerpt 1 (PDF)

> Excerpt 2 (PDF)

Questionnaire

> Consult Questionnaire (PDF)

 

Contributions to the consultation 

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