Light bulb proposals given EU kick start

John Gormley, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, announced that the European Commission will now implement the phasing out initiatives across the EU in September.

“If introduced as they are proposed, the proposed regulations will eliminate the need for Ireland to introduce its own minimum standards,” he commented.

“I am heartened by the role Ireland has had in leading the way on this initiative, and I commend the European Commission for the proactive approach it has taken in adopting a much more ambitious phasing-out process than that mooted when Ireland began formulating its own proposals.”

Minister Gormley launched a consultation paper on the introduction of an energy efficiency standard for light bulbs in October last year.

The phasing out scheme is scheduled to end in 2012.