Government delays introduction of new minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for lighting products

The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has confirmed it will delay the introduction of new MEPS for lighting products.

In a letter to the Lighting Industry Association (The LIA), DESNZ said the timeline for new MEPS under Ecodesign requirements would be pushed back. It acknowledged the industry needed time to develop new products that conformed to new MEPS.

The decision is in response to feedback from consultees submitted during the Government’s consultation on the new requirements, published in January. The LIA, LIA members and partner associations voiced concerns about the timeline for the new regulations.

In a statement the LIA said: “We would very much like to thank the wider LIA membership (especially those on the MEPS Task Force), the LLG and the BRC who came together to allow us to create not just well-informed consultation returns but also a major rebuttal.”

Government confirms extension of use of the CE mark 

DESNZ also confirmed that the Department for Business and Trade’s announcement to indefinitely extend the use of the CE mark. It said this was not intended to affect the lighting proposals which have been consulted on.

DESNZ stated: “As part of the consultation, we set out our intention to mandate UKCA marking for lighting products at the point we bring in the new standards. We will set out our response on this in more detail in the Government response.”

The Government is yet to confirm the new timeframe for the new Ecodesign MEPS.

The LIA: working towards a more sustainable future for lighting 

The LIA recently joined forces with CIBSE to introduce an innovative product verification scheme aimed at promoting circular economy practices within the lighting industry. Launched in June 2023 and known as the TM66 Assured, the scheme provides independent verification of lighting manufacturers' circularity claims,

The scheme leverages CIBSE’s TM66 Creating a Circular Economy in the Lighting Industry guidelines and the TM66 Circular Economy Assessment Methods (CEAM) developed by a cross industry team of manufacturers - including Tamlite Lighting.

•    Read the DESNZ’s letter to the LIA and its partners in full.