The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published LL 8-2008 Limits on Mercury Content in Self-ballasted Compact Fluorescent Lamps.

This publication has been published by the NEMA Lamp Section, based on discussions with representatives of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States Department of Energy, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. It covers limited integral, self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamps of all base types, such as E26 and GU24, generally referred to as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).

According to Ed Yandek, chair of the NEMA Lamp Section Technical Committee, LL8 responds to utilities, environmental groups, energy efficiency consortia, EPA, and other stakeholders, including retailers, who have all expressed a desire to limit the amount of mercury used in self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamps. As a result, the NEMA Lamp Section and its technical committee took the initiative to implement this voluntary commitment. Participation is open to all CFL manufacturers and suppliers, not just to NEMA members.

"Compact fluorescent lamps are an environmentally preferable product from a total mercury life-cycle perspective," Yandek said. "It is to the lighting industry's advantage to limit the total mercury content of CFLs and to work with all stakeholders so that CFLs are managed in an environmentally responsible manner at end-of-life."

This document provides an industry process to commit to a voluntary maximum mercury dose level per lamp. It applies to integral, self-ballasted CFLs manufactured or imported after April 15, 2007, thus insuring that manufacturers have sufficient time to manage their supply chains.

An electronic copy of LL8-2008 may be downloaded at no charge or a hard copy may be purchased for $28 by visiting NEMA’s Web site at www.nema.org/stds/LL8.cfm, or by contacting IHS at 800-854-7179 (within the U.S.), 303-397-7956 (international), 303-397-2740 (fax), or on the Web at www.global.ihs.com.

NEMA is the trade association of choice for the electrical manufacturing industry. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., its approximately 450 member companies manufacture products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end-use of electricity. These products are used in utility, medical imaging, industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential applications. Domestic production of electrical products sold worldwide exceeds $120 billion. In addition to its headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia, NEMA also has offices in Beijing, São Paulo, and Mexico City.