Federal Trade Commission Proposes New Light Bulb Labels

The FTC has proposed new labeling requirements for lamps in response to a congressional mandate to provide consumers with clear, easily understandable information to help them choose among different bulb types as traditional lamps compete with CFLs and newer LED lamps.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announced on October 27 seeks comment on new labels that emphasize lumens, not watts, as the measure of lamp 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.

Sounds interesting. It also provides a big incentive for consumers to become more educated about lighting. My question is: Who’s going to educate them?

Learn more about what the FTC is looking for from public comments herehere. As usual when dealing with the government, the actual process of commenting is unclear; contact the FTC for more information. The FTC File No. is P084206 and the staff contact is Hampton Newsome, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2889.

Craig DiLouie

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