Fluorescent light bulb ban now in effect in Canada
In 2023, the Government of Canada estimated there were around 100 million lamps containing mercury sold in Canada over the decades.
As of January 1, the manufacture and sale of most common fluorescent lamps containing mercury are prohibited in Canada.
It’s the first phase of a plan led by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
The initiative is part of a nationwide pledge to reduce mercury pollution per its obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a United Nations program that over 140 countries have signed onto.
Canada’s initiative is called Products Containing Mercury Regulations.
Retailers will be allowed to continue to sell their existing stock until the end of 2029, with a goal of completely eliminating their sale by the end of the decade.
As of January 1, 2026, the import of several types of fluorescent lamps used for general lighting cannot be manufactured or imported into Canada. Instead, consumers will be directed to mercury-free alternatives, like LED lighting.
Ottawa first announced the ban back in June 2024, citing it as a necessary step toward eliminating mercury pollution.
“These regulations are the final step that will allow Canada to fully align with the international Minamata Convention on Mercury for products,” reads an excerpt from the original announcement.
“... By 2035, it is expected that the regulations will allow Canada to decrease the quantity of mercury released from lamps into the environment by 91 per cent (681 kilograms) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4.6 megatonnes.”
Products Containing Mercury Regulations was adopted in 2015 and, in a statement, officials say it’s working:
“As a known toxic substance, mercury has been managed in many ways over the past fifty years,” The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, says in a statement.
“We’ve seen the release of mercury into the air and water decline by half since 2007. It is crucial that we continue to protect the health of Canadians and their environment, while encouraging businesses to transition to safer alternatives.”
What is mercury?
Mercury is a naturally-occurring heavy metal that can be converted into a toxic compound called methylmercury that accumulates in living organisms. Humans are mainly exposed to mercury through the consumption of fish or fish-eating animals that contain high levels of methylmercury.
Lamps containing mercury are safe to use, but if broken, mercury can contaminate the environment.
Fluorescent bulbs once promoted as environmentally-friendly
In 2013, the Government of Canada rolled out a ban on incandescent light bulbs, mainly due to extreme energy inefficiency.
At the time, consumers were directed to replace their incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent and LED lights, which can last 10 to 20 times longer.
In 2023, the Government of Canada estimated there were around 100 million lamps containing mercury sold in Canada over the decades.
If a lamp has “Hg” written on the bulb or fixture, it contains mercury. Its packaging or manual will also likely say “contains mercury.”
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Header image: light bulb photo courtesy of the Government of Canada.
