Retail body calls for EU commissioners to reject a move which will force consumers to pay more for energy efficient light bulbs.
EU Commissioners will meet today (Wednesday August 29) to decide if Europe will scrap import duties on low-energy light bulbs from China, which add 66% to the dockside price of the bulbs.

The duties were introduced in 2002 in response to claims by major European bulb makers that China was selling them into the EU at below cost price.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) believes the duty should be scrapped on the grounds that it is blatant protectionism.

The BRC is calling on the EU to scrap the duty in order to help Europe meet its Energy Efficiency target, which aims to reduce energy use by 20% by 2020.

BRC Director General Kevin Hawkins said: "The Commission needs to put the environment before the narrow self interests of a minority of member countries and scrap import duties on Chinese bulbs."