UPDATE May 7, 2025: Reptile, amphibian, and other animal keepers will get some relief from the Department of Energy ban on specialty animal care light bulbs. Bulbs that were unreasonably banned will be available again, provided a special sticker is applied to the packaging. This is great news for animal welfare! We have an excerpt below and have included a link to the full Enforcement Policy Statement. Thank you to everyone who engaged on this issue!
“Pursuant to Executive Order 14154, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces that effective immediately it will not take enforcement actions against any seller of noncompliant general service lamps (GSL), where such GSLs are marketed and sold exclusively for use in the care of reptiles, amphibians, or other small animals. Any other sale of non-compliant GSLs is subject to the discretionary enforcement powers of DOE…
As DOE initiated enforcement actions for sales of noncompliant GSLs, veterinarian and zoo organizations, along with concerned reptile owners, reached out to DOE expressing concern over the sales ban, which they claimed prevents them from obtaining lamps used for the health and care of their reptiles, amphibians, and other small animals. These groups indicated that they regularly use certain lamps, which meet the GSL definition but fail to meet the standard, for the lamps’ infra-red and heating properties, which foster the growth and development of reptiles, amphibians, and other small animals. These groups have requested that DOE exempt from the GSL sales prohibition any lamp marketed and sold solely for use for the care of reptiles, amphibians, or other small animals…
To be given enforcement leniency under this policy, a manufacturer or retailer must affix to all such lamps the following warning label:
This lamp is only available for purchase under DOE’s limited Enforcement Policy for GSLs Marketed Exclusively for Animal Health and Care. The purchaser is advised to consider suitable, available substitutes.”
Read the full statement at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25-DOE-light-bulb-Enforcement-Policy-Statement.pdf.
Action steps are below the issue summary!
In 2022, the Department of Energy (“Department”) passed a regulation that banned certain incandescent light bulbs. Light bulbs are deemed inefficient if they do not emit a certain amount of lumens per watt. Specifically, the rule prohibits the sale of “general service lamps” (GSLs) that do not meet a minimum efficacy standard of 45 lumens per watt (lm/W). This was meant to transition from less efficient bulbs to more efficient lighting, like LED bulbs.
These animal care bulbs are specialty items and are not used for general-purpose lighting in homes and businesses. However, certain bulbs were reviewed solely on how many lumens they produced per watt. No other criteria were examined.
Changes to this ban have been sought for many months. The Department showed promising signs of being reasonable regarding the concerns expressed by experts such as veterinarians, zookeepers, and professional herpetologists. The Department’s willingness to engage with stakeholders was welcome and appreciated, but the animals cannot wait any longer.
Experts, please send any data supporting the need for the types of bulbs below for animal welfare and sound husbandry. The Department needs this information and needs to hear from more experts.
List of bulbs currently subject to the ban by the Department (some, but possibly not all):
basking spot lamps under 125W
daylight bulbs under 125W
halogen lamps under 125W
UVB compact fluorescent lamps
UVA compact fluorescent lamps
TAKE ACTION NOW
Remember to be civil and professional! Acting otherwise will only hurt our cause. You can provide science and input about your animal welfare concerns to this email address: energyefficiencyenforcement@hq.doe.gov
Step 1: Contact your federal legislators in less than a minute at https://ujoin.co/campaigns/3298/actions/public?action_id=4278.
Step 2: Email your legislators through their websites.
Find and contact your two (2) U.S. Senators:
Go to this link: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htmChoose your State.Click “Contact” under a Senator’s name.Fill out the contact form. (You may need to click a second link such as SHARE, CONTACT, or EMAIL.)Repeat for your second Senator.You can find phone, fax, and mailing address details for Senators on their websites (after clicking “Contact”).
Find your U.S. Representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Simply go to the link above and enter your zip code. Your Representative will appear. Just click on his/her name to send them emails through their websites.
Below is a basic sample message.
Please edit it and feel free to expand. Be polite!
Please do not just copy and paste. A bunch of the exact same message is not as effective as personalized emails.
My pets need your help! As a responsible animal owner and your constituent, I am very troubled that the Department of Energy has banned specialty animal care light bulbs that keep my pets healthy. The ban has created extreme animal welfare issues. Pet reptiles and birds, animals in zoos and conservation programs, and many others will suffer. These bulbs are not used for general lighting and are needed to keep many animals healthy. Several million American homes have pet reptiles and birds.
It is animal cruelty to ban these bulbs, and there must be an exemption now! These specialty light bulbs for animal care should not be included in the Department of Energy’s ban on general-use lamps. Please do what is right for the animals and American pet owners by directing the Department to exempt them. Have a good day.
YOUR NAME
