EU - The Renewal of RoHS Exemption for the Use of Mercury in CFLs

​By Decision 2010/571/EU, the European Commission granted an exemption for the use of mercury in single capped (compact) fluorescent lamps for general lighting purposes, which is now listed as exemption 1(a), 1(b), 1(c), 1(d) and 1(e) in Annex III to Directive 2011/65/EU. The exemption was to expire on July 21, 2016.

On December 19, 2014 and January 15, 2015, the Commission received two applications for renewal of the exemption, of which one was updated with a renewed application on January 20, 2020. In accordance with Article 5(5), second subparagraph, of Directive 2011/65/EU, the exemption remains valid until a decision on the renewal application has been taken.

After the evaluation, the Commission concluded that sufficiently reliable mercury-free substitutes for the lamp types covered by the exemption are already widely available and that the substitution of mercury in these lamps is scientifically and technically practicable. Furthermore, it also concluded that the benefits of substitution will clearly outweigh any negative impact. Therefore, an expiry date for the exemption are set for the entries as follows:

1 Mercury in single capped (compact) fluorescent lamps not exceeding (per burner):

1(a) For general lighting purposes < 30 W: 2,5 mg, Expires on February 24, 2023

1(b) For general lighting purposes ≥ 30 W and < 50 W: 3,5 mg, Expires on February 24, 2023

1(c) For general lighting purposes ≥ 50 W and < 150 W: 5 mg, Expires on February 24, 2023

1(d) For general lighting purposes ≥ 150 W: 15 mg, Expires on February 24, 2023

1(e) For general lighting purposes with circular or square structural shape and tube diameter ≤ 17 mm: 5 mg​, Expires on February 24, 2023​