NEMA Voluntary Commitment on Mercury in Compact Fluorescent Lights
Last Updated 11/5/2008 11:53 AM
What Is This?
As a result of discussions between representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and member companies of the Lamp Section of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), NEMA is initiating this voluntary commitment program and is making it available for use by all CFL manufacturers (who sell or make available for sale in the United States) of self-ballasted CFLs that agree to abide by the requirements of this program. This commitment has been translanted into a NEMA standard. Click here for more information on NEMA LL-8. To download a copy of the standard, click here.
Under the voluntary commitment, effective April 15, 2007, participating manufacturers will cap the total mercury content in CFLs at less than 25 watts at 5 milligrams (mg) per unit. CFLs that use 25 to 40 watts of electricity will have total mercury content capped at 6 mg per unit.
Click here to access the March 13, 2007 press release announcing the commitment.
Why?
Utilities, environmental groups, energy- efficiency consortia, and other stakeholders have recently expressed concerns that CFL penetration could be negatively impacted due to the presence of mercury in CFLs. Since CFLs are an environmentally preferable product from a total mercury life-cycle point of view, as a potential issue. The two key responses are then to: a) limit the total mercury content of CFLs, and b) ensure that CFLs are managed in an environmentally responsible manner at end of life.
This commitment is the latest step in the industry’s efforts to reduce mercury content and is consistent with NEMA's Call to Action on hazardous substances.
Who Is Making This Commitment?
Company Declarations
Click on the company name to access its declaration.
DJL Electric Device (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Dongguan City Howin Decoration Products Co., Ltd.
EiKO, Ltd.
Feit Electric Company, Inc.
Fujian Joinluck Electronic Enterprise Co., Ltd
GE Consumer & Industrial, Lighting
Germain Lighting Limited
Greenlite Lighting Corporation
Halco Lighting Technologies
LA Lamp USA LLC
Leedarson Lighting (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.
Link Electronics Shanghai Co., Ltd.
Litetronics International, Inc.
Maxlite
Neptun Light, Inc.
OSRAM SYLVANIA, Inc.
Philips Electronics
Premium Quality Lighting (PQL), Inc.
Satco Products, including Nuvo Lighting
SLi Lighting
Technical Consumer Products, Inc.
Tospo Electronics Co., Ltd.
Ushio America, Inc.
VIVA Company Limited
Westinghouse Lighting Corporation
Zhejiang NVC Lamps Co. Ltd.
List of participating companies' non-conforming products
How Can a Company Participate?
Detailed explanation of the commitment and requirements
Commitment form
Non-conforming product form
