FTC Proposes Additional Time for Manufacturers to Adopt New Light Bulb Labels

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comments on whether to provide manufacturers approximately six additional months to incorporate new light bulb labels on their packaging, and whether to exempt certain bulbs that will soon be obsolete from those requirements. The new labels, which were announced last summer, will help consumers choose among the different types of bulbs on the market – traditional incandescent bulbs, and newer high-efficiency compact fluorescent (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs.

Currently, the new light bulb labeling requirements will take effect on July 19, 2011. The FTC proposes to extend the effective date until January 1, 2012 and not to require the new label for incandescent bulbs that will be phased out as of 2013 (e.g., 75 watt bulbs). The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 imposes stringent energy efficiency standards for light bulbs beginning in 2012, and will eliminate low-efficiency incandescent bulbs from the market over the next few years. The FTC proposes these modifications in response to a petition submitted by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

The Commission vote approving the Federal Register notice announcing the proposal was 5-0. Comments on the proposal are being accepted through January 28, 2011, and can be submitted online at https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/lightbulblabel. (FTC File No. R611004; the staff contact is Hampton Newsome, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2889; see press release dated June 18, 2010.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s website at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.

(FYI 55.2010.wpd)