Panasonic will cease production of fluorescent lamps by the end of 2027. The company has been ramping up the production of energy-efficient LED lighting while gradually scaling back fluorescent lamp production. It has now decided to completely end fluorescent lamp production by 2027, following an international agreement in 2023 to ban the manufacture, import, and export of fluorescent lamps due to the health and environmental risks posed by mercury. With the government’s goal of achieving 100% LED conversion by 2030, Panasonic’s decision is expected to accelerate the adoption of LED lighting.
Fluorescent lamps are being phased out globally due to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, an international treaty that came into effect in 2017. This treaty regulates mercury’s entire lifecycle, from supply and manufacturing to storage and waste. The Convention established a timeline for ending the production and trade of many mercury-containing products to minimize environmental contamination and protect public health.
In the EU and UK, all fluorescent lamps used for general lighting are already being removed from sale by September 2023, although fluorescent UV lamps have been granted a temporary exemption until 2027. The U.S. is moving towards a ban more gradually, with some states already setting phase-out dates. The 137 parties that have signed the Convention have agreed to eliminate compact fluorescent lamps by 2025.
When the Minamata Convention was initially discussed, and EU laws on mercury use were drafted in 2011, there were no viable alternatives to UV bulbs for specialized applications such as fly control, medical sterilization, and industrial product curing. These applications were given temporary exemptions, which were extended in 2021.
Since then, LED technology has advanced significantly, providing a mercury-free alternative for producing UV light that also offers superior performance in terms of efficiency, cost, energy use, and environmental impact. Given these advancements, there are now no valid reasons to continue using fluorescent UV tubes, and they should be replaced as soon as possible.
