The latest phase of lamp bans has taken effect.
... loophole has now been closed, with rough service lamps banned. To be honest, I'm not surprised this ban has been extended to so called "rough service" lamps - it has been on the cards for a while now. When the original phase-outs were implemented, production was halted, however retailers were permitted to sell the outlawed GLS lamps for a time, providing they were from their own existing stocks. This led to the almost insatiable desire of the public to snap up the old bulbs whilst they were still available. Stories of "bulb snatchers" plundering the local DIY shop have been well documented in the popular press over the years.
Once the existing stocks were depleted however, the demand was presumably still strong, therefore the realisation that a bulb formerly used in lathe inspection lights would also work at home and not come under any of this legislation was a revenue stream destined to be tapped. This is why it became much easier to buy a 100W bulb after the ban than before it.
They can be found in the majority of low end chain discounters, usually keenly priced and marketed as being "Heavy Duty" as well as "Rough Service". One brand in a vague nod to the ban would also include "NOT FOR DOMESTIC USE".
Compared with the old Crompton and Thorn varieties, these imported lamps always looked to be of a lower quality, however at around 50p each, I wouldn't think the great unwashed who still mourn the loss of their old bulbs would bother too much about that!
Although "rough service" lamps were not initially intended to be included in the legislation, the powers that be must have had an inkling their ambitions would be thwarted by this devious means. The EU therefore indicated early on, that it would monitor the import / sale of these lamps. If the demand for them were to increase substantially, it would be assumed the legislation is been flouted and a ban on these lamps would be instigated too. It would therefore seem that by meeting a perceived customer demand, the suppliers have now killed off a useful lamp from its original market ie: industrial users - not that we have many of those left these days!
The ban on the decorative "squirrel cage" lamps however, could have had more thought given to it. As it stands, only the traditional clear envelope versions are included, meaning the tinted and coloured varieties (being classed as decorative) will be unaffected by the ban. These things seem to have become very fashionable on TV programmes for artistic effect and you can't go online shopping without them being offered in designs very much removed from the originals.
To be fair, Thorn continued to make squirrel cages for many years as their "Navigation lamp" so the fashion for them in trendy interiors can be traced back to the 70s. These lamps however would have probably been made using original equipment.
I often thought it perverse how "homegrown" GLS filament lamps can be banned in order to save the planet, yet any perceived savings are being nullified by the increased use of these imported lamps, especially on TV shows and in fancy interiors.
In fairness though, I think the example below is probably the pinnacle of squirrel cage lamp exploitation! It will also survive the ban.