BEUC NEWS - 31.08.2018

Energy-guzzling halogen bulbs will start disappearing from shops, giving way to more efficient alternatives such as LEDs.

From 1 September, an EU ban ends the use of inefficient halogen bulbs. Practically this means that halogens bulbs will be on sales until stocks are depleted. Halogen spotlights have already been phased out since 2016.

The ban is expected to lead to an uptake of LEDs and help consumers save money in the long term. British consumer group Which? found that in comparison to halogen lightbulbs, LEDs last much longer and are cheaper to run. The European Commission highlights that the forthcoming switch will bring about “yearly energy savings equal to the annual electricity consumption of Portugal.”

The share of LED lamps available on the market meanwhile is expected to increase due to continuing improvements in LED technology. The price of LEDs is also going down, which is good news for consumers.
 

What’s happening in your country?

Consumer groups in Austria, France, Spain and the UK have a useful need-to-know about the switch:

• Austria (VKI): Halogenlampen: Verbot ausgedehnt

• France (CLCV): Fin des ampoules halogènes : comment bien choisir ses nouvelles ampoules ?

• Spain: OCU recuerda que las bombillas halógenas desaparecerán del mercado a partir del 1 de septiembre

• United Kingdom (Which?): EU halogen light bulb ban: everything you need to know

Read more about our work on Ecodesign here.