Deadline looms for sales of incandescent light bulbs in city
Companies signed up to charter scheme start removing incandescent light bulbs from shelves, but others say legislation is needed
Suppliers and retailers that signed a government charter to phase out power-hungry incandescent light bulbs will stop stocking and selling them from tomorrow.
The intention was to phase out incandescent light bulbs and replace them with more energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, which have become popular alternatives in recent years.
The scheme was introduced on a voluntary basis after failing to garner enough public support in 2011 to justify its legislation, according to the Environment Bureau. Currently 36 suppliers and 28 retailers have signed up, while another five trade associations and 113 user groups have committed to stop trading in and procuring the bulbs.
Supermarket chain ParknShop, one of the signatories to the scheme, said all incandescent light bulbs would be taken off its shelves from next month.
But Philips, one of the largest light bulb suppliers in Hong Kong, has not signed the charter and believes legislation would be a more effective way to get rid of inefficient lighting devices.
Senior public relations manager Pansy Chan said the company had been pushing for legislation to drive the phasing-out of inefficient lighting.
