Lamps

The ban on sales of traditional light bulbs (lamps) is covered by different regulations. In general the ban includes all halogen and filament lamps used for general applications. There are exemptions for particular types such as those used in theatre and studio for example. The ban extends to the manufacturer and importation of these lamp types which means it is compleatly legal to sell lamps that are already on the market until the stock is sold. These lamps are banned under the EUP (Energy using products) regulations which are designed to force the move to more efficent light sources such as LEDs.

Recently some lamps which are not banned because of their energy efficency such as fluorescent tubes are being banned under different regulations (ROSH) to remove mercury from the environment. This ban is just starting to take effect and will result in the ban on all fluorescent tubes, compact lamps, ebergy savibng lamps and circular tubes. There are exceptions such as ultra-violet tubes which cannot be replaced by LEDs. Again existing stocks can be sold but new lanps cannot be put on the market after the ban takes effect.

No provided that they are kept dry so that the metal parts do not corrode the lamps will not deteriorate over time, with one exception, energy saving lamps contain capacitors and these will eventually degrade  somewhere between fifteen and twenty five years after manufacturing.