Restrictions on Mercury, Lead & Cadmium etc.

Under new legislation brought in by the E.C., proposals are to ban the use of Mercury in lamps by 2008. Various dates have been mentioned, August 2008 looking most likely, but it could be earlier.

ROHS regulations have already banned Lead in PCB's (Printed circuit boards) and the use of any lead in soldering for electrical or electronics purposes (came into effect July 2006) and this caused some shortages in certain items until they could be substituted.
For list of substances see http://www.rohs.gov.uk/
Also see : http://www.watt-power.co.uk/rohs.htm
Also see : http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee_index.htm

Quite what they will substitute M.V. lamps with, I am not sure.
Most likely, they will be replaced with more powerful compact fluorescents (which also contain mercury ironically).  Some of the new compact fluorescents are quite good (for example, the Black CF's) but I have yet to see any compact fluo which can equal a 125W MV.

A complex list of exemptions is appended to the legislation, it is so far unclear whether MV lamps will be excluded (it looks like actinics may be okay under "special purposes" exemptions) but MV lamps may be set to go in 2008. ( See a list of exemptions at the bottom of this page and make your own mind up ! )

It is also ILLEGAL for suppliers (ie: myself, or other Moth Trap suppliers) to stockpile prohibited items before the legislation comes into force, with the intent to sell them afterwards.

So there we have it ! - To be honest, the legislation is unclear as to whether or not you will be able to get M.V. lamps or not after 2008. Personally, I dont think they can ban them, as there is no good equivalent yet, so my guess is it may drag out for a few more years yet, but it may be wise to stock up on your MV moth lamps during 2007 just to be on the safe side.  Don't panic buy and push prices up !!!  But don't sit on your hands either, expecting someone else to buy loads and sell them to you later (as this is illegal and ROHS has already been coming down hard on stock-pilers).  Read up on ROHS on the internet and come to your own conclusions !


SOME EXCLUSIONS FROM ROHS:

- Mercury in compact fluorescent lamps not exceeding 5 mg per lamp.
- Mercury in straight fluorescent lamps for general purposes not exceeding:
- halophosphate 10 mg
- triphosphate with normal lifetime 5 mg
- triphosphate with long lifetime 8 mg
- Mercury in straight fluorescent lamps for special purposes.
- Lead in glass of cathode ray tubes, electronic components and fluorescent tubes.


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