With 60 other organizations from the fields of animal welfare, species conservation, animal husbandry and veterinary medicine , EPO joins a call toward the EU authorities to review the EU regulation on lighting products that endangers both animal welfare and ex situ species conservation.
Initiated by BNA (Bundesverband für fachgerechten Natur, Tier und Artenschutz e.V., Germany), the open letter call the EU authorities to enable exemptions for animal keeping/husbandry and species conservation on a permanent and technology-open basis.
The current legislation unfortunately lacks the exemption for "special purpose products - pet care" as was included in the previous regulatory frameworks, which as of 25 August 2023 lifts up the derogations for T5 and T8 fluorescent lamps previously defined in Annex III of the regulation.
The reference legal framework includes:
· EU 2019/2020 laying down eco-design requirements for light sources and separate control gears pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Regulations (EC) No 244/2009, (EC) No 245/2009 and (EU) No 1194/2012
· EU 2019/2015 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding energy labelling of light sources and repealing Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 874/2012 and
· 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment have serious negative effects on animal welfare and ex situ species conservation in Europe due to a ban of various lighting products used for animal husbandry not only in the private but also in the public and professional sector like zoos and aquaria.
