EU - Draft Amendments on RoHS Exemptions Regarding the Use of Mercury in Certain Lamps

​The draft Commission Delegated Directives amends Annex III to Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2 Directive). The amendment concerns the following seven exemptions for specific applications containing mercury:

- 2(b)(3) - Non-linear tri-band phosphor lamps with tube diameter > 17 mm (e.g. T9): 10 mg, expires on 3 years after the adoption. The current limit is 15 mg without any expiration date.

- 2(b)(4) - Florescent lamps for other general lighting and special purposes. The current limit is 15 mg without any expiration date.

a) 2(b)(4)-I - Lamps for other general lighting and special purposes (e.g. inducion lamps): 15 mg, expires on 3 years after the adoption.

b) 2(b)(4)-II - Lamps emitting mainly light in the ultraviolet spectrum: 15 mg, expires on 3 years after the adoption

c) 2(b)(4)-III - Emergency lamps: 15 mg, expires on 3 years after the adoption

- 3 - Cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode fluorescent lamps for special purposes

a) 3(a) - Short length (≤ 500 mm): 3.5 mg in EEE placed on the market before the date of adoption, expires on 5 years after the adoption. The current limit is 3.5 mg without any expiration date.

b) 3(b) - Medium length (>500 mm and ≤1500 mm): 5mg in EEE placed on the market before the date of adoption, expires on 5 years after the adoption. The current limit is 5 mg without any expiration date.

c) 3(c) - Long length (> 1 500 mm): 13 mg in EEE placed on the market before the date of adoption, expires on 5 years after the adoption. The current limit is 13 mg without any expiration date.​​

- 4(a) - Other low pressure discharge lamps: Mercury in low pressure non-phosphor coated discharge lamps, where the application requires the main range of the lamp-spectral output to be in the ultraviolet spectrum: up to 15 mg mercury may be used per lamp, expires on 5 years after the adoption. The current limit is 15 mg without any expiration date.

- 4(c) - Other high pressure sodium lamps for general lighting purposes

a) 4(c)-I - P ≤ 155 W: 20 mg, expires on 5 years after the adoption. The current limit is 25 mg without any expiration date.

b) 4(c)-II - 155 W < P ≤ 405 W: 25 mg, expires on 5 years after the adoption. The current limit is 30 mg without any expiration date.

c) 4(c)- III - P > 405 W: 25 mg, expires on 5 years after the adoption. The current limit is 40 mg without any expiration date.

- 4(e) - Mercury in metal halide lamps (MH), expires on 5 years after the adoption. 

- 4(f) - Other discharge lamps for special purposes

a) 4(f)-I - Mercury in other discharge lamps for special purposes not specifically mentioned, expires on 3 years after the adoption

b) 4(f)-I​I - Mercury in high pressure mercury vapor lamps used in projectors where an output ≥2000 lumen ANSI is required, expires on 5 years after the adoption

c) 4(f)-III - Mercury in high pressure sodium vapor lamps used for horticulture lighting, expires on 5 years after the adoption

d) 4(f)-IV - Mercury in high pressure sodium vapour lamps emitting light in the ultraviolet spectrum, expires on 5 years after the adoption

They are now open for feedback for 4 weeks until July 12, 2021.