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Taiwan is to prohibit the manufacture, importation and export of a range of mercury-added products in accordance with the Minamata Convention on Mercury[1] from Jan 1st, 2021.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty signed by 50 countries to reduce mercury emissions and use. It entered into force on Aug 16th, 2017.
Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has incorporated the contests into the “Categories and Management of Handling for Toxic Chemical Substance”[2]. Uses for manufacture of insect-resist agents for grains, thermometers and industrial catalysts were previously prohibited in Taiwan, and the new bans[3] will be implemented from 2021 for mercury-added products including fluorescent lamps, batteries, switches and relays, non-electronic measuring devices such as barometers, hygrometers, manometers, sphygmomanometers, etc.
The product details and exemptions are detailed in Annex A of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The EPA issued the changes with the aim of bringing Taiwan in line with the treaty and to minimize exposure risks.
Taiwan has regulated mercury as a Class 1 toxic chemical substance since 1991, specifying permitted and prohibited uses. The EPA emphasized that the tightened management will have limited impact on the industry since the operation volume in Taiwan has already been reduced and most enterprises have already introduced substitutes.
To prepare for these changes, EPA held four inter-ministerial meetings. During the four meetings details on planned adjustments to regulation and work allocation were provided. In addition, the EPA held three industry-focused meetings. All business entities which participated have committed to follow the treaty and cooperate with the EPA to gradually phase out mercury-added products.
