For four weeks, from 12 October to 9 November 2018, the EU ran a Public Consultation on the current (October) draft of the Ecodesign lighting regulation - this part of their ‘better regulation agenda’ intended to let the Commission ‘listen more closely to the views of citizens and stakeholders.’

On behalf of its members, the ALD submitted a response to the survey, which can be found on the European Commission website here

In addition, a number of other organisations representing or working in the entertainment industry responded outlining the effect on their productions should the last four outstanding points relating to entertainment lighting not be addressed.  In total, the survey received 72 responses. One of these was an accidental duplicate, so in fact 71 responses.

Of those:

• 22 were entirely about entertainment lighting.
• 8 included entertainment lighting as part of their scope, including even one from Australia.

That means that just over 42% of the total response included concerns about the effect of the regulation on entertainment lighting - clearly showing the level of concern our industry still has.

All of the responses are publicly available, and can be found here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/initiatives/ares-2018-476175_en

Parallel to this, the ALD and others including PLASA and the film trade body ASPEC have been engaging with the UK Government’s Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the department that deals with Ecodesign and so will be involved in the final discussions on the subject in Brussels. A very productive meeting was held with them on November 5th, during which the remaining issues with the regulations were identified and clearly explained to them.

Ideally, the equivalent departments in every other EU country would be similarly briefed. Such discussions are taking place in some countries (we know of at least Spain and the Netherlands). But ideally, every such department would understand our concerns and be well briefed on them. If you work or are based in other EU countries, the ALD would strongly encourage you to identify and contact the relevant department to make sure they are aware of the issue.

There is an urgency to this. Final discussions and the vote to accept the regulation are currently scheduled to take place on December 17th. That is very soon.

We have all achieved a great deal over the last eleven months. But we're not quite done yet.

If you need help or additional information to help in any discussions you have with government, please do get in touch.

www.savestage.lighting

EU Lighting Regs - Discussion & Q&A

November 21st 2018 11am-1pm
The Camden People's Theatre

A free event (Limited places available)

The updated EU guidelines will be debated on November 21st 2018 (11am-1pm) at The Camden People's Theatre (NW1 2PY).

This session will be framed for smaller theatres/arts platforms, their tech teams and any other interested parties.

Places are limited, and so you MUST register before arriving via Eventbrite on this link

This is an informal event where by everyone will have a chance to ask Rob directly (who has been at the forefront of keeping abreast of the changes from Brussels), how the new Ecodesign lighting regulations issued by the EU will effect them - and to discuss what they can do about it to prepare for the future.

The event is kindly hosted by The CPT and was set up by Theatremaker Russell Lucas in conjunction with Lighting Designer Rob Halliday.