UV Zero Mercury Countdown
There is a complete ban on mercury containing ultraviolet lamps
Prohibition background
Understanding the background and significance of the EU RoHS directive's ban on mercury containing ultraviolet lamps
The hazards of mercury
Mercury is listed by the World Health Organization as one of the top ten chemicals most dangerous to public health. Due to its toxicity, the EU has tightened restrictions on the use of mercury under the RoHS directive, and a comprehensive ban on mercury containing ultraviolet lamps is an important step in reducing environmental risks
Minamata Convention
This decision is consistent with the Minamata Convention, a global initiative aimed at protecting human health and the environment from the hazards of mercury. The Minamata Convention is named after Minamata Bay in Japan, where thousands of people were poisoned in the mid-20th century due to mercury pollution in industrial wastewater
technological advances
Technological advancements have led to the development of safer mercury free alternatives in many fields. Especially UV-LED, excimer lamps, and even lasers provide promising possibilities for replacing mercury vapor lamps
Technical challenges
Although many mercury containing lamps have been replaced in the field of general lighting, they still face significant challenges in the UVC band
Technical challenges in the UVC band
Wavelength difference
There are significant differences in wavelength range and radiation characteristics between traditional mercury vapor lamps and UVC-LEDs, and new testing and characterization schemes need to be developed
Geometric design
The geometric design, spectral characteristics, and key performance parameters of UV-LED are not easily compared directly with mercury vapor lamps in the UVC band
system compatibility
It is difficult to simply retrofit high-performance mercury vapor lamps with UVC-LED systems, especially in many existing water treatment equipment
Affected application areas
Exemption and Solutions
Understand the exemption conditions of the ban and industry response plans
exempting conditions
Spare parts supply
There is no time limit for the supply of mercury containing ultraviolet lamps as spare parts for existing equipment, as long as the equipment is installed before February 2027
Specially Designed
Devices specifically designed for installation in another device that is excluded from the ban are also excluded from the ban
Large equipment
UV lamps designed specifically for use in large tools or industrial installations may be exempt from the ban
Solution
UV-LED technology
Enterprises and scientists are actively developing UVC-LED solutions
New standard formulation
Advanced UV for Life members are developing new testing standards for UV-LED water treatment
Industry Collaboration
The Hg RoHS working group is coordinating manufacturers and users to jointly address challenges
Important Reminder
Even if there are exemptions, manufacturers have a responsibility to clearly and explicitly record which products are exempt and which are not. These documents must be clear, understandable, and verifiable to third parties such as customs or end-users
Disclaimers
The information in this article is based on the latest integrated version of EU Directive 2011/65/EU (commonly referred to as "RoHS") released on August 1, 2024. The information provided is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the legal information provided