The global process of "mercury-free" lighting products is accelerating

"The RoHS directive exemption has officially ended and will not be extended," the news began to circulate in the industry a few days ago.

It is understood that the RoHS directive exemption will officially end on February 24, 2023 and will not be extended. Lamps not covered this time will be supervised in stages, and ordinary fluorescent lamps will gradually disappear in the market except for some special purposes.

Previously, although products contained mercury, they were still allowed to be manufactured and sold. Electronic and electrical equipment sold in the EU market must prohibit the exemption of the six substances "Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, PBB (Polybrominated Biphenyl), PBDE (Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether)".

But it is worth noting that with the official end of the RoHS directive exemption, most types of fluorescent lamps will be prohibited from being manufactured and sold in Europe. According to the Minamata Convention, which together with the RoHS Directive is a major initiative to eliminate mercury, is now in force, most countries including Japan have banned the manufacture and sale of ordinary fluorescent lamps. The combination of the two also accelerates the global process towards a mercury-free society.