Mercury and its Compounds

Peru Supreme Court Upholds Compensation Order Against Yanacocha and RANSA for Choropampa Mercury Spill

In January 2026, Peru’s Supreme Court made final a civil judgment holding Minera Yanacocha and RANSA jointly liable to pay court-ordered compensation to three victims of the 2000 Choropampa mercury spill. The ruling underscores long-tail legal and financial exposure for toxic spills in Peru’s mining sector, reinforcing the need for robust transport controls, remediation planning, and human-rights due diligence across Andean operations.

21 May 2026, 06:39grufides.orgPeru

US FDA Issues Warning Letter To La Crema De Rebeca Over Mercury-Containing Skin Cream

In May 2026, the US FDA issued a warning letter to La Crema De Rebeca over a mercury-containing skin lightening cream marketed online as an unapproved and misbranded drug. The action underscores heightened enforcement against unsafe cosmetic and drug products and forces the company—and similar marketers of skin treatments—to strengthen product safety, labelling, and compliance controls.

20 May 2026, 19:59fda.govUnited States

US FDA Warning Letter to Lus Essentials LLC Over Mercury-Containing Skin-Lightening Products

In May 2026, the US FDA issued a warning letter to Lus Essentials LLC after finding that two skin-lightening and acne products contained high levels of mercury and were being sold as unapproved, misbranded drugs in the United States. Manufacturers, importers, and online sellers of topical cosmetic or drug products should urgently reassess formulations, labelling, and supplier controls for undeclared mercury to avoid similar enforcement actions, forced corrective measures, and potential market disruption.

20 May 2026, 19:56fda.govUnited States

Brazilian Chamber Amazon Committee Backs Bills for Total Mercury Ban in Mining and National Exposure Policy

In May 2026, Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies Amazon committee heard strong evidence of widespread mercury contamination and backed two federal bills to ban mercury use in mining and establish a national policy to prevent mercury exposure. If approved, these measures would dramatically tighten mercury controls across Brazil’s mining and gold supply chains, align national law with the Minamata Convention, and signal major future obligations for operators that use or release mercury.

19 May 2026, 20:56camara.leg.brBrazil

China NMPA Incorporates Three Revised Standards Into Cosmetics Safety Technical Specification (Announcement No.48 of 2026)

China’s NMPA has issued Announcement No.48 (15 May 2026) incorporating revised standards for o-phenylphenol and its salts, Acid Violet 43 (CI 60730) and mercury compounds into the national Cosmetics Safety Technical Specification, with implementation dates in July 2026 and June 2028. Cosmetics registrants and manufacturers should review formulations and testing for these substances and plan to implement the new standards ahead of the respective 2026 and 2028 effective dates to avoid non-compliance.

19 May 2026, 15:28nmpa.gov.cnChina

Hong Kong L.N. 28 of 2026 Sets Staggered Effective Dates for Mercury-Added Product Restrictions

Hong Kong has issued Legal Notice No. 28 of 2026 to set staggered commencement dates from March 2026 through December 2027 for expanded mercury-added product restrictions under the Mercury Control Ordinance. Manufacturers, importers and distributors of mercury-containing batteries and fluorescent lighting face phased bans and a final supply cut-off in January 2029, requiring early portfolio review and substitution planning.

19 May 2026, 08:25info.gov.hkHong Kong SAR China

New York Assembly Proposes Extending Mercury Thermostat Collection Act to 1 January 2028

In May 2026, the New York Assembly introduced Bill A11392 to extend the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act’s repeal date from 1 January 2027 to 1 January 2028. If enacted, this one‑year extension keeps existing mercury thermostat collection obligations in force longer, giving manufacturers and waste programmes more time to manage compliance and anticipate future policy changes.

18 May 2026, 17:27assembly.state.ny.usUnited States

Illinois HB3409 Senate Amendment Sets 1 July 2028 Effective Date for Chemicals in Cosmetic Products Act

Illinois lawmakers are advancing HB3409, a cosmetics chemicals bill whose new Senate amendment would make any future ban on specified PFAS and other hazardous ingredients effective from 1 July 2028 rather than immediately. If enacted, this long lead time would still require cosmetics brands and suppliers in Illinois to plan portfolio reviews, reformulations, and PFAS phase-outs well ahead of 2028 to avoid market access and compliance risks.

15 May 2026, 09:42ilga.govUnited States

California OEHHA Issues Fish Consumption Advisory for Lake Hemet (Riverside County)

California’s environmental health agency has issued a new mercury-based fish consumption advisory for Lake Hemet in Riverside County, setting different weekly limits for black bass, Common Carp, and Rainbow Trout by age and sex. This strengthens risk communication for subsistence and recreational anglers in the area, guiding safer consumption choices without creating new legal obligations for businesses.

14 May 2026, 12:26oehha.ca.govUnited States

China MEE Invites Information on Minamata Convention Dental Amalgam Ban After 2034

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment has launched a data call on dental amalgam and other mercury‑added products to assess the impact of a Minamata Convention amendment that would ban production and trade of dental amalgam after 2034. Manufacturers and users of dental amalgam in China should evaluate their exposure, consider alternatives, and engage ahead of the 31 May 2026 information deadline as this assessment will shape China’s future regulatory stance on mercury in dental products.

11 May 2026, 11:36mee.gov.cnChina

EU Commission Confirms No Review of Expired Mercury Lamp Phase-Out Dates

In May 2026 the European Commission confirmed, in an answer to a European Parliament question, that it will not revisit the expired phase-out dates for importing, exporting and manufacturing mercury-containing general lighting lamps under the RoHS Directive and the revised EU Mercury Regulation. This closes the door to deadline extensions and reinforces that lighting and electronics manufacturers must complete phase-out and redesign plans based on the existing RoHS exemption expiries and the linked mercury product bans.

9 May 2026, 19:00europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

WHO Behavioural Insights Toolkit Helps Countries Address Harmful Skin‑Lightening Practices

In May 2026 the World Health Organization highlighted a behavioural insights toolkit to help countries address harmful skin-lightening practices and support elimination of mercury-containing cosmetics. The toolkit signals stronger global expectations that regulators and health authorities will tighten controls on hazardous ingredients in skin-lightening products and design behaviour-change policies aligned with the Minamata Convention.

8 May 2026, 06:41who.intGlobal

Minnesota Senate Finance Committee Considers Battery Stewardship Amendment to SF 4059

Minnesota’s Senate Finance Committee is considering an omnibus finance amendment that would create a statewide battery stewardship program, requiring producers of most small and medium batteries (including those in products) to join and fund a collection and recycling system from 2027, with disposal bans, sales restrictions, and labelling requirements applying from 2029. If enacted, this would impose new extended producer responsibility, labelling duties, and mercury‑related sales bans affecting battery and battery‑containing product manufacturers, importers, and retailers in Minnesota, requiring early planning for product design, take‑back logistics, and compliance budgeting.

7 May 2026, 19:24assets.senate.mnUnited States

EU Council Mandate to Amend Carcinogens Directive OELs for Cobalt, PAHs, Isoprene and 1,4-Dioxane

In May 2026 the EU Council tabled its mandate on a Directive amending the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances at Work Directive to introduce binding EU-wide occupational exposure limits for cobalt, PAH mixtures, isoprene and 1,4-dioxane and to extend coverage to welding fumes and hazardous medicinal products. If adopted broadly as drafted, these changes will tighten exposure controls for metals, chemical and healthcare workplaces, requiring earlier investment in monitoring, engineering controls, PPE programmes and worker training ahead of six-year transitional periods for some limits.

7 May 2026, 19:17eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Taiwan MOENV Adds Methoxychlor, Dechlorane and UV-328 to Toxic Chemicals List and Tightens Mercury and Tetrachloroethylene Controls

Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment has formally amended its toxic chemical substances regulation to add three POPs and tighten controls on mercury and tetrachloroethylene, with the changes taking effect on 1 July 2026. Companies manufacturing, importing, or using these substances in Taiwan must prepare now for new bans, concentration limits, and permitting requirements, factoring in only a limited transition period for existing operators.

30 Apr 2026, 09:00enews.moenv.gov.twTaiwan

Minnesota S.F. 5211 Proposes Battery And Electronics Stewardship And Mercury-In-Batteries Ban

Minnesota S.F. 5211 is an omnibus environment and natural resources bill that would create producer-funded stewardship schemes for batteries and covered electronic products, introduce disposal bans and labelling requirements, and tighten rules on mercury- and lead-containing batteries alongside broader hazardous materials and spill-preparedness reforms from 2026 onward. If enacted, manufacturers and retailers of batteries and electronics would face new obligations to join approved stewardship plans, finance free statewide collection and recycling, redesign rechargeable products and labelling by 2028–2030, and manage transition risks from the phase-out of mercury-containing batteries and stricter take-back rules for lead-acid batteries.

28 Apr 2026, 16:22revisor.mn.govUnited States

Singapore Phases Out Six Mercury-Added Fluorescent Lamp Categories

Singapore’s environment regulator has classified six categories of mercury-containing fluorescent lamps as hazardous substances under the Environmental Protection and Management Act, triggering phased bans on their import, export and manufacture from 1 January 2027 and 1 January 2028. Lighting manufacturers, importers and major users must accelerate the shift to mercury-free alternatives, update HS code declarations, and plan inventory carefully to avoid stranded stock once the phase-out dates take effect.

24 Apr 2026, 09:47nea.gov.sgSingapore

Basel Convention OEWG‑15 Consults On Updated Technical Guidelines For POP, E‑Waste, Battery, Tyre And Mercury Wastes

In March 2026 the Basel Convention’s Open-ended Working Group launched consultations on a broad package of updated technical guidelines for POP wastes, e-waste, batteries, tyres, mercury wastes and related hazardous waste streams ahead of its June 2026 meeting. These non-binding but influential texts will shape future expectations for classification, recycling and disposal under the Basel regime, so organisations handling such wastes should monitor OEWG-15 outcomes and consider contributing comments by 31 July 2026 through their national delegations.

24 Apr 2026, 09:46docs.un.orgGlobal

Minnesota Senate Committee Advances Battery Stewardship Program and Mercury-In-Batteries Ban

In April 2026 the Minnesota Senate Environment Committee advanced omnibus bill SF 4214 with a detailed battery stewardship and mercury‑in‑batteries package that would require producers to fund a free statewide collection and recycling network for portable batteries and ban most mercury‑containing consumer batteries from July 2026. If enacted, manufacturers and importers placing batteries and battery‑equipped products on the Minnesota market would need to join a producer responsibility organisation, redesign sales and labelling practices, and plan now for new disposal bans and collection‑network performance standards that bite between 2027 and 2029.

23 Apr 2026, 08:20senate.mnUnited States

California Assembly Amends And Re-Refers Infant Formula Heavy-Metals Testing Bill AB 2302

In April 2026, the California Assembly amended AB 2302 on infant formula heavy-metals testing and consumer disclosure and advanced it to the Appropriations Committee, phasing brand-owner website and QR-code labelling obligations in from 1 January 2028 while retaining strict monthly testing duties for manufacturers. Infant formula manufacturers and brand owners selling into California should plan for accredited monthly testing of each product line and build systems, labels, and online disclosures to publish batch-level aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury results in time for the 2028 start date.

22 Apr 2026, 13:58leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States