Commission Delegated Directive 2014/76/EU of 13 March 2014 amending, for the purposes of adapting to technical progress, Annex III to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards an exemption for Mercury in hand crafted luminous discharge tubes (HLDTs) used for signs, decorative or architectural and specialist lighting and light-artwork  Text with EEA relevance

20.5.2014 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 148/86
COMMISSION DELEGATED DIRECTIVE 2014/76/EU
of 13 March 2014
amending, for the purposes of adapting to technical progress, Annex III to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards an exemption for Mercury in hand crafted luminous discharge tubes (HLDTs) used for signs, decorative or architectural and specialist lighting and light-artwork
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (1), and in particular Article 5(1)(a) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Directive 2011/65/EU prohibits the use of mercury in electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market.
(2) Handcrafted luminous discharge tubes (HLDTs) are handmade special purpose lamps which exist in a broad variety. Examples are neon signs, individual architectural illumination and special light emitters in the chemical analytical research. As HLDTs are used for indoor and outdoor applications and with an individual colour spectrum composition, they have to work reliably under sensitive and cold conditions with very high life expectations because they are often difficult to access. In order to function properly under these conditions, HLDTs require a minimum quantity of mercury.
(3) The elimination or substitution of mercury in HLDTs and the complete substitution of HLDTs with other technologies such as LED is scientifically and technically impracticable. The use of mercury in HLDTs used for signs, decorative or architectural and specialist lighting and light-artwork should therefore be exempted from the prohibition. The use of mercury should be limited to the necessary minimum amount and the validity period should end 31 December 2018, in order to avoid adverse impacts on innovation.
(4) Directive 2011/65/EU should therefore be amended accordingly,