Netherlands turns its back on light bulb ban

The Netherlands will not impose a national ban on incandescent light bulbs, environment minister Jacqueline Cramer announced on Thursday. In May the government said it was considering a ban to drive a switch to more energy-efficient lighting by 2011. Ms Cramer reiterated the 2011 goal but said it could be achieved instead through voluntary agreements with manufacturers and minimum energy efficiency standards being developed under the EU's energy-using products directive. Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad said the minister also acknowledged a national ban would be "virtually irreconcilable" with EU internal market rules. See press release.

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