http://www.osram.com/osram_com/Consumer ... index.htmlAccording to this, there are going to be a few types of lamps phased out over the next few years.
2010 * Phase out of T8 halophosphate fluorescent lamps
(1)2012 * Phase out of T12 fluorescent lamps
(1) * Phase out of High-pressure sodium lamps (HPS): HPS standard quality (only E27/ E40/ PGZ12 affected)
* Phase out of Metal halide lamp lamps (MH): Less efficient MH lamps (only E27/E40/PGZ12 affected)
2014 * Review of the regulations by the EU Commission
2015 * Phase out of High-pressure mercury lamps (HPM)
* Phase out of Plug-in/retrofit high-pressure sodium lamps
(2) (= direct replacement for HPM)
2017 * Phase out of Poor performing metal halide lamps (MH) (only E27/E40/PGZ12 affected)
(1) through minimum efficiency requirements
(2) Plug-in lamps must correspond to Super/Plus HPS level; almost all plug-in/retrofit lamps will be banned Information correct as of December 2008; data may differ from the final EU directive.
I don't know what Halophosphate T8 tubes are compared to ordinary flu tubes, but they're the first to go, followed by T12 flu's in 2012. Looks like we'll have to stock up on T12's - I may get a few 5-footers for my Festival; I already have a couple of 2-footers I need to test.
2012 will see Standard HPS phased out... Now, as excited as this made me at first, a second thought makes me think this will not be a blanket ban on SON (sadly). Rather, the standard types will be phased out, so things like PIA-Plus and Phillips Master (and the one that goes a bit whiter than normal) and possibly White SON may remain... Though I don't know what the PGZ12 lamp base is.
2015 is the date to be aware of, as Mercury gets banned then. so we effectively have 5 years to stockpile, before they go the way of the SLI. Also, the SON retrofit for Mercury is also to go in the same year, so there'll be no choice for mercury lanterns but to convert them.
"Poor Performing" MH lamps will go in 2017. I don't know whether "poor performing" includes standard CDM-T lamps, or just the old Quartz MH lamps. If the newer CDM lamps are included, then it'll only leave things like Cosmo lamps.
By 2012 all Filament and Halogen lamps above 7 watts will also be Banned except for Special application Lamps, by 2017 High Performance Fluorescent and Discharge Lamps will be used for Commercial Industrial and Street Lighting, and for General Lighting Compact Fluorescent and LED lamps will be used.