relative file path for layout
Skip to main content  Skip to search  Skip to main menu
Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 411/2

25 November 2013

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 936/2013

Argentina : Energy Labeling Requirements for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts

The Argentine government issued Decree No. 246/2013 on 16 September 2013 requiring electromagnetic and electronic ballasts for fluorescent lamp to comply with the labeling requirements as set out in Resolution No. 319/1999 of 14 May 1999.

2.The labeling requirements are applicable to electromagnetic and electronic ballasts for fluorescent lamps suitable for use in 220 volts and 50 hertz that are sold in Argentina, either as stand-alone products or as part of a light fixture. Ballasts for fluorescent lamps which are excluded are:

  1. ballasts used for emergency lighting, which keeps the light on by using a battery;

  1. ballasts incorporated into lamps;

  1. ballasts constituting a non-replaceable element of a light fixture that cannot be tested separately from that fixture;

  1. ballasts marked for use exclusively with lamps designed to function only at high frequency; and

  1. ballasts marked for use exclusively with 112 watts fluorescent lamps.

3. Covered ballasts certified pursuant to the provisions of Article 4 of Resolution No. 319/1999 will be required to display the energy efficiency index and power factor in a legible form on their external surface in accordance with IRAM 62407, as well as the legend "Res. ex S.I.C. y M. No 319/99", the logo or brand of the accredited certification body and the corresponding certificate number.

4. Covered ballasts must be accompanied at the point of sale by a data sheet that includes the luminous flux factor ("Factor de Flujo Luminoso/FLB" in Spanish) and total harmonic distortion ("Distorsión Armónica Total/THD" in Spanish). Data sheets for electronic ballasts must include the legend: "The power factor of this ballast cannot be increased by installing additional capacitors,", while data sheets for electromagnetic ballasts must include, whenever applicable, an indication of the additional capacitor value required to increase the power factor of the ballast to a minimum nominal value of 0.85.

5. The labeling requirements will be implemented in two stages: 

Stage 1:
 
Importers and domestic manufacturers will be required to submit to the National Directorate for Internal Trade ("Dirección Nacional de Comercio Interior" in Spanish) the accreditation from at least two test laboratories of a sworn declaration stating the technical characteristics for every ballast model. The sworn declaration must be accompanied by an official record of initiation of processing the required certification, as well as the applicable testing programme issued by the relevant test laboratory and approved by the accredited conformity assessment body. 

Stage 2:

Importers and domestic manufacturers will have 60 days after initiation of stage 1 to accredit compliance with the provisions of IRAM 62407 or standards replacing IRAM 62407 by submitting a Certificate of Conformity for each ballast model.

6. For details, traders are advised to consult their importers in Argentina and/or the Argentine Resolution or Decree (in Spanish), which are available at:

Resolution No. 319/1999:
http://www.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/55000-59999/57667/texact.htm

Decree No. 246/2013:
http://www.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/220000-224999/220928/norma.htm.

ENQUIRIES

7.For enquiries about the content of this circular, please contact Miss S Y TANG at telephone number 2398 5405.

Yours faithfully,

(Ms Cindy CHENG)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry



Note: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.