The draft EU regulation proposes that tungsten halogen and compact fluorescent lamps be effectively prohibited as light sources by 2020.
As part of the Ecodesign Law review, the minimum efficiency requirement for all light sources is 85 lumens per watt and the maximum standby power is 0.5 watts, which will begin to take effect.
Since standard tungsten halogen lamps have an efficiency of about 25 lumens/watt, and compact fluorescent lamps with ballasts can only reach 60 lumens/watt, both technologies will be eliminated by the new regulations.
Eco-design law is often referred to as the "light bulb ban," which is the phase-out of the EU's inefficient light source. In recent years, the law has gradually banned incandescent light sources. In September of this year, non-directional halogen bulbs will be gradually phased out, including candles, GLS (A50, A60 incandescent), spheres and golf balls.
Removing compact fluorescent lamps from the market is highly symbolic because compact fluorescent lamps represented environmentally friendly lighting in the 1990s. However, despite the continuous penetration of compact fluorescent lamps in commercial applications, the heads of households never took it into consideration. Many people complained about the low color temperature and long start-up time. The presence of mercury is also considered to be a fatal weakness because mercury is not environmentally friendly.
Although few people express condolences for the departure of energy-saving lamps, the live entertainment industry has launched a campaign against the elimination of halogen lamps. The sport was launched by the Lighting Designers Association and is called Save Stage Lighting.
The draft of the new regulations also proposes returning to lighting fixtures that previously used replaceable luminaires. According to the current wording, luminaire manufacturers will make the light source detachable and replaceable from the luminaire by September 2020. The draft stipulates that “Manufacturers and importers should ensure that light sources and individual controls within the scope of this regulation can be easily removed by the end user without causing permanent mechanical damage.”
If passed, these suggestions will have a major impact on the production of lamps.