Retailers will be able to sidestep a ban on buying traditional 40W bulbs due to come into force in September 1.
From that date, no more 40W bulbs will be allowed to be "placed on the market" within the EU.

Shops will be allowed to sell their existing stocks and still order from wholesalers until the latter run out of stock. EU directives have already outlawed the sale of 100W and 60W incandescent bulbs.

But the rules applying to 40W only affects "household lamps". Which means that even when the last standard 40W bulbs clear the retail shelves, similar products for industrial use will still be legal and two UK manufacturers are believed to be mass manufacturing so-called "rough service" bulbs.

Though major supermarkets are not expected to stock the bulbs, hardware retailers are already selling the "rough service" variety, marked as unsuitable for domestic use to comply with the new legislation.