The ManicaPost
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has banned the importation, manufacture and sale of inefficient light bulbs in a move aimed at saving electricity.
ZERA said the ban of poor lighting products is under Statutory Instrument 21 of 2017.
“The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) hereby informs all lighting products importers, wholesalers, retailers, consulting engineers, contractors/installers and the general public of the promulgation of the Electricity (Inefficient Lighting Ban and Labelling) Regulations, 2017 published in SI 21 of 2017.
“The regulations shall come into force on 28th April 2017,” it said.
The regulations specify aspects such as efficiency, lighting output, degradation during service life, life span and colour of light.
Zera said the regulations were meant to protect consumers from substandard lighting products as well as ensure efficient/ use of electricity in the country. According to the regulations, no person shall import, manufacture, distribute or sell lighting products which do not meet the minimum energy performance standards (MEPs) as defined in the regulations while lighting products which do not meet MEPs will be seized and disposed of.
Also banned are incandescent light bulbs with the exception of special incandescent lighting products such as medical and laboratory equipment, T10 and T12 halo phosphate fluorescent lamps and magnetics ballasts as fluorescent lamps with a colour rendering index less than 80.
“All importers of lighting products for sale or distribution shall register with Zera. All lighting products to have labels which indicate voltage, wattage, lumens, life span and energy efficiency class,” the authority said.
Zera said disobeying the regulations was a criminal offence.
“Any person found in contravention of the regulations shall be found guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both such fine and imprisonment,” said the authority.
The ban of inefficient light bulbs is anticipated to relieve the national grid of a substantial amount of power. – New Ziana.
