Canada's planned phasing out of incandescent light bulbs is delayed by two years due to consumer concerns about alternative technologies. The new deadlines in 2014 are January 1, for 100 and 75 watt bulbs and December 31, for 60 and 40 watt bulbs.

All developed markets worldwide are committed to implementing energy efficiency standards for light bulbs, and this includes the US, the EU, Australia and Canada. The energy efficiency standard for light bulbs was introduced in 2007 with the stated aim of improving incandescent bulbs or replacing them with more efficient technologies, notably with compact fluorescent and LED bulbs. The underlying aim of energy saving is to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by the enforcement of low energy requirements.

Numerous concerns have been voiced with regard to energy-saving compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), mainly due to their potential risks to health, their actual performance and issues involved in their disposal due to their mercury content. Research conducted by the Canadian government indicated that CFLs pose no health risks from ultraviolet radiation or electromagnetic emission, but noted that more time is needed to communicate these facts to consumers effectively.

Reasons given for delaying the implementation in Canada by two years are that the amendment to the regulations will provide more time to communicate research findings to the public as well as more time to install CFL disposal programs. The main messages to the Canadian public are that no one technology will have to be used, alternatives will become available and the use of CFLs poses no health risks.

However, the delay will put Canada one or two years behind the US schedule for incandescent bulb phase-out as well as pushing any projected energy and cost savings further into the future.

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Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Martin Dodd
Project Engineer, Energy Efficiency & Performance
620 Old Peachtree Rd., Suite 100
Suwanee, Georgia 30024
USA

t: +770-570-1800
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.consumer-goods-retail.sgs.com/en/Electrical-and-Electronics.aspx

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