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On March 20, 2026, Taiwan's Ministry of Environment (MOENV) notified the WTO of a draft amendment to the Restrictions on the Importing of Mercury-Added Products. The original import restrictions have not been updated since August 25, 2020. This draft amendment strengthens mercury management by eliminating or revising certain previous regulatory exemptions and introducing a phased prohibition schedule for additional products.
The draft amendment, proposed to take effect on May 1, 2026, significantly expands the list of prohibited mercury-added products to better align with the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The Details are as follows.
Effective Date | Mercury-Added Products Subject to Import Ban |
|---|---|
May 1, 2026 | - Self-ballasted fluorescent lamps (≤ 30 watts) for general lighting |
January 1, 2027 | - Compact fluorescent lamps for general lighting |
January 1, 2028 | - Linear and non-linear fluorescent lamps for general lighting that use tri-band phosphors |
Despite the strict prohibitions, the draft amendment specifies specific conditions under which mercury-added products may still be imported. Companies may apply for an exemption by submitting supporting documents for MOENV review and approval. Allowable exemptions include:
products necessary for civilian protection and military purposes;
products for research, experiments, education, instrument calibration, or as reference standards; and
cases where no feasible mercury-free alternative is currently available.
Industry stakeholders have 60 days to review and provide feedback on the proposed amendment. The deadline to submit comments on this WTO notification is May 19, 2026.
