The final switch over

Ban on high pressure mercury lamps

From 13 April 2015, all high pressure mercury lamps will be banned. This agreement is included in the Decree (EC) no. 245/2009. This guideline describes the measures for the reduction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

The objective of the EU is to reduce pressure on the environment and to improve public health. The ban on high pressure mercury lamps is one of the many measures taken by the EU to reach that objective.

The ban of high pressure mercury lamps and the earlier ban of most of the incandescent lamps from September 2012 are not the first measures taken by the EU. In 1988, a campaign programme was already drawn up which was aimed at the development of specific measures, aimed at the limitation of the usage of cadmium and to promote research into replacement chemicals.

Substances to which restrictions apply are lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalant chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB’s) and polybrominated defenyl ethers.

What other types of lamps will disappear in the coming years and what are future proof alternatives?

Read the detailed answers to these questions in our free eBook!