Petition

We call on the European Union to revoke the exemption for fluorescent lights containing mercury under the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS).

According to the RoHS, if toxic-free alternatives exist, then exceptions must end for toxic substances like mercury in society. As there are clear toxic-free alternatives for fluorescent light bulbs, we call on the European Union to respect the RoHS directive and end exemptions for fluorescent light bulbs.

Why is this important?

There is one type of light bulb we can all easily pick up in our local hardware stores, but that should not be for sale: Fluorescent bulbs. They contain mercury, an extremely toxic substance that could damage our health. [1] They also use double the amount of energy of newer lights, creating more emissions and damaging our climate.

Luckily, alternatives exist: Newer LED bulbs are already used by lots of people in Europe, and they pay for themselves by reducing our energy bills. They are better for the environment, too. By using half as much electricity, LEDs reduce climate-changing fossil fuel emissions. [2]

But despite their health and climate hazards, fluorescent bulbs are still sold in shops all over Europe. [3] That’s because the lighting industry wants to continue profiting off old technology for as long as we'll let them.

Independent researchers hired by the EU looked into toxic fluorescent light bulbs in 2016. And the outcome? They recommended a total ban by 2018. But the Commission faced intense lobbying from the lighting industry. It still hasn’t banned toxic lighting. [4, 5]

Now a final decision from the EU Commission is due at last. [5] We know that lighting industry lobbyists are already well-known to the EU Commission, so if we want to get rid of toxic lighting for good, we need to show the Commission that Europeans have had enough of big business interests being put first.

References:

The World Health Organisation considers mercury to be a major public health concern, and warns that exposure to even a small amount of it can cause irreversible harm.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mercury-and-health
https://www.hunker.com/13412784/led-vs-fluorescent-lighting
https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/mercury-in-cfl/en/mercury-cfl/l-2/1-mercury-tolerance.htm
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/65/2020-09-01
https://meta.eeb.org/2019/12/05/mercury-spotlight-the-toxic-lamps-that-shall-not-be-turned-off/
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/rohs_eee/index_en.htm
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/topics/waste-and-recycling/rohs-directive_en
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-9-2021-001340_EN.html
https://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/reports/RoHS_SEA_Lamps_2020_Revision-Final_10072020.pdf

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EU Commission: Ban toxic light bulbs!