Commission Proposes New Light Bulb Labels, Seeks Public Comments

Source: Federal Trade Commission, 10/27/09
Date: 12.1.09

The FTC has proposed new labeling requirements for "lamps," commonly known as light bulbs, in response to a congressional mandate. The marketplace has been changing quickly with the emergence of newer, more energy-efficient technologies -- such as compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and light-emitting diode (LED) products -- as traditional incandescent bulbs are phased out. The proposed labels provide consumers with clear, easily understandable information to help them choose among different bulb types.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announced today seeks comment on new labels that emphasize lumens, not watts, as the measure of bulb brightness. This information, along with estimated energy cost information, would appear on the front of the light bulb package. The back of the package would display a "Lighting Facts" label modeled after the "Nutrition Facts" label for food packages. The Lighting Facts label would provide information about brightness, energy cost, the bulb's expected life, color temperature (for example, whether the bulb provides "warm" or "cool" light), as well as wattage. The label also would require disclosures for bulbs containing mercury. The bulb's output in lumens -- and a mercury disclosure for bulbs that contain mercury -- would also have to be placed on the bulb itself.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires the Commission to consider the effectiveness of current bulb labeling requirements and explore alternative labeling approaches. As the first step, the Commission issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking last year seeking comments on existing labeling requirements and possible labeling alternatives, and then held a public roundtable to gather more information.

The Commission vote approving issuance of the notice of proposed rulemaking was 4-0. It can be found on the FTC's Web site and as a link to this press release, and describes how consumers can submit comments, which must be received by December 28, 2009. (FTC File No. P084206; the staff contact is Hampton Newsome, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2889; see press release at: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/07/lightbulb.shtm.)