Inefficient Light Bulb Ban Bill

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ban the sale and use of environmentally inefficient light bulbs.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Section 1: Definitions

(1) "Incandescent light bulb" means a general service lamp that produces light by heating a filament in a glass bulb filled with an inert gas or a vacuum.

(2) "Halogen light bulb" means a type of incandescent light bulb that uses a halogen gas to increase energy efficiency and lifespan.

(3) "Fluorescent light bulb" means a type of light bulb that uses an electric current to excite a gas, which then produces ultraviolet light that is converted to visible light by a phosphor coating on the inside of the bulb.

(4) "LED" refers to inorganic light-emitting diodes, and means a technology which -

(a) light is produced from a solid state device embodying a p-n junction of inorganic material, and
(b) the junction emits optical radiation when excited by an electrical current

Section 2: Ban on Incandescent, Halogen and Fluorescent Light Bulbs

(1) The import, manufacture, distribution, and sale of incandescent, halogen, and fluorescent light bulbs shall be prohibited.

(2) Three years after the date of assent, the use of incandescent, halogen, and fluorescent light bulbs in all public buildings shall be banned.

Section 3: Exemptions

(1) This Act does not apply to incandescent, halogen or fluorescent light bulbs specifically tested and approved to operate --

(a) in potentially explosive atmospheres,
(b) for emergency use,
(c) in radiological installations,
(d) in or on military or civil defence establishments, equipment, ground vehicles, marine equipment or aircraft,
(e) in or on motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, interchangeable towed equipment, components and separate technical units,
(f) in or on civil aviation aircraft,
(g) in railway vehicle lighting,
(h) in medical devices.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph “specifically tested and approved” means that, in relation to an operating condition or application, the light source or separate control gear—

(a) has been specifically tested for that operating condition or application, in accordance with standards produced by an international standardising body;
(b) is accompanied by evidence in the form of a certificate, type approval mark or test report that the product has been specifically approved for that operating condition or application; and
(c) is placed on the market specifically for that operating condition or application, as evidenced by
(i) the information in the technical documentation; and
(ii) except in a case to which sub-paragraph (1)(d) applies, information on the packaging and any advertising or marketing materials.

(3) The government may grant exemptions to this Act for certain areas or industries where alternative options are not yet available or would impose undue financial burden.

(4) This act does not apply to sodium vapour lamps.

Section 4: LED procurement

(1) Subject to Section 3, replacement of light bulbs as required under section 2 shall be of LED-type.

Section 5: Penalties

(1) Any person found guilty of being concerned in the import, manufacture, distribution or sale of any goods prohibited in this Act, shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a penalty of £20,000 or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years, or to both.

Section 6: Extent, commencement and short title

(1) This Act extends to England only.

(2) This bill shall come into force six months after receiving Royal Assent.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Inefficient Light Bulb Ban Act 2023.

This Bill was written by /u/Ruijormar, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on behalf of His Majesty’s 32nd Government and was inspired by the real life Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Lighting Products) Regulations 2021

This division ends Friday 30th June at 10pm BST.