Incandescent light bulb ban

Incandescent light bulb bans have been enacted by several governments that prohibit the manufacture or importation of incandescent light bulbs for general lighting in favor of more energy-efficient alternatives. The regulations are generally based on efficiency, rather than use of incandescent technology.

In 2009, the European Union and several other nations began the process of banning incandescent bulbs. In the early to mid 2010s, the bans continued in various other nations. In 2023, the United States banned most general service incandescent lamps, but had exclusions for specific bulb implementations.

Objections to banning incandescent light bulbs include the higher initial cost of alternatives, lower quality of light of fluorescent lamps, and concerns of government overreach. Bodies such as the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks, as well as some psychiatrists, have expressed concern about the health and psychological effects of fluorescent lighting and blue light, stating they disrupt sleep, circadian rhythm and melatonin production compared with incandescent bulbs. Additional objections focus on the potentially hazardous materials in some alternative lamps.