EU to ban fluorescent lights in 2023 (CFL/T5/T8)

[goingrey]

Due to the mercury in them, fluorescent lights are to be banned in the EU August this year as part of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS).

There will still be an exemption for lamps meant for "special purposes" for 3-5 years. Not sure if this covers grow lights.

If this is a technology you use and also plan to in the future, it might be a good idea to stock up.

RoHS Directive

Discover EU rules on the restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS in EEE).

environment.ec.europa.eu

 

[sallyforthDeleted member 75382]

Cheers for the heads up. I use T5 for UV tubes. Best stock up on tubes this year.

 

[Ca++]

UV lamps will likely get around the ban, as there is no suitable replacement. While LED lighting is used in many fish tanks, the poor availability of UV LEDs means a small flo can be found in many LED fittings. Many germicidal lamps give off levels that LED can't realistically produce. Things like water treatment on large scale, simply need flos. I'm not sure 3-5 years is a realistic goal to replace them, with UV getting so little development for the LED market. Though I have seen LEDs that can make the right light, the output was a joke, but the cost wasn't funny at all.