Energy efficiency: requirements for ballasts for fluorescent lighting

In adopting the report by Mr Turmes (Greens/EFA, Lux), the European Parliament approves the Commission proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on Energy Efficiency Requirements for Ballasts for Fluorescent Lighting. The European Parliament's amendments to the proposal relate to: - the exclusion of certain types of ballasts, such as ballasts which are integrated in lamps; non-standardised ballasts designed specifically for luminaires to be mounted in furniture; ballasts to be exported from the Community, either as single component or incorporated into luminaires; - the "CE" marking being affixed improperly, the manufacturer or his authorised representative established within the Community shall be obliged to bring the product into conformity and to end the infringement, within one month of the conditions imposed by the Member States; - the placing on the market of ballasts which comply with the same conditions as those which were applied on their territory at the date of adoption of this Directive, this shall be carried out during an 18-month period following adoption of this Directive. Furthermore, after 8 years from the adoption of this Directive the third set of maximum allowable power consumption values defined in Annex 1B shall become applicable. The Commission may on request, having obtained appropriate technical advice, permit specific EU-wide exemptions for certain uses of the most energy-efficient magnetic ballasts on the basis that electronic ballasts could not perform the function in question efficiently, from a purely technical standpoint. Before the expiry of a period of 6 years from the adoption of this Directive, the Commission shall make an assessment of the results obtained as compared with those expected. This will include an assessment of the necessity for the exemption provided for in the preceding paragraph, and could, based on the state of electronic ballast technology at that time, seek to remove that exemption clause. Lastly, the Commission shall also: - assess the share of EU production of ballasts exported outside the European Union either as a single component or incorporated into luminaires. - further assess the possibility of applying to it the flexibility mechanism defined under the Kyoto Protocol. - promote in the appropriate international fora international standards based on the principles of this Directive.�