Minamata Convention on Mercury

Chinese Taipei Drafts Amendment to Dry Cell Battery Restrictions to Tighten Mercury Limits

Taiwan is proposing to tighten mercury limits for button cell batteries to ≤ 1 ppm and expand the scope of regulated dry cell batteries to include zinc-air button cells by July 2026. Manufacturers and importers must prepare for the invalidation of existing mercury confirmation documents and ensure new product certifications meet the stricter thresholds to maintain market access.

9 Apr 2026, 09:51members.wto.orgTaiwan

Japan Amends Technical Guidelines For Managing Mercury-Containing Recycled Resources

Japan has finalized stricter technical guidelines for the storage and labeling of mercury-containing recycled resources, effective April 1, 2026. Impacted operators must upgrade facility infrastructure and labeling protocols, particularly for materials exceeding 0.1% mercury, to ensure compliance with new containment and security standards.

27 Mar 2026, 16:22kanpo.go.jpJapan

Japan Revises Mercury Act Article 2(2) Requirements Ordinance

Japan updated the Mercury Pollution Prevention Act's implementing ordinance on March 24, 2026, refining definitions for mercury-added products and hazardous wastes. Companies must re-assess their product portfolios and waste streams against these clarified criteria to maintain compliance with manufacturing, handling, and export restrictions.

27 Mar 2026, 16:20kanpo.go.jpJapan

Chinese Taipei Proposes Amendment to Import Restrictions on Mercury-Added Products

Taiwan is proposing expanded import bans on mercury-added products, including lighting and electronic sensors, starting January 2027 to align with the Minamata Convention. Impacted industries must accelerate substitution plans for mercury-containing components to ensure continued market access ahead of the 2027 and 2028 enforcement dates.

25 Mar 2026, 21:35members.wto.orgTaiwan

EU Adopts Delegated Regulation 2026/55 Updating Mercury-Added Product Bans Under Regulation (EU) 2017/852

The EU has prohibited the manufacture, import, and export of specific mercury-containing monitoring and control instruments, effective from 31 December 2025. Impacted businesses must ensure high-precision measurement bridges and RF switches are mercury-free to maintain market access and align with international Minamata Convention requirements.

18 Mar 2026, 18:53eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Pakistan Faces International Pressure to Enforce Mercury Bans on Toxic Skin-Whitening Creams

Global pressure is mounting on Pakistan to enforce mercury bans in cosmetics following widespread testing failures and high-profile consumer alerts in the US and EU. Manufacturers and retailers face intensified supply chain scrutiny and potential market access restrictions as regulators tighten enforcement of Minamata Convention standards.

13 Mar 2026, 07:34personalcareinsights.comPakistanUnited StatesPhilippinesEuropean UnionGlobal

Chile Notifies Draft Emission Standard for Boilers (Particulate, NOx, SO₂, Mercury)

Chile has notified a draft national emission standard for boilers, introducing stricter limits for PM, NOx, SO2, and mercury with a May 2026 comment deadline. Industrial operators face significant compliance shifts, including mandatory continuous monitoring and a two-to-three-year window to upgrade existing large-scale combustion assets.

12 Mar 2026, 21:31members.wto.orgChile

EcoWaste Coalition Warns Of High-Mercury Pakistan-Made Skin-Lightening Creams

NGO testing reveals extreme mercury contamination in skin-lightening products, far exceeding Minamata Convention limits. Heightened enforcement and e-commerce scrutiny signal increasing liability for retailers and platforms failing to screen for prohibited toxic ingredients.

11 Mar 2026, 16:48personalcareinsights.comGlobalPakistan

EU Council Working Party To Discuss Minamata COP6 Follow-Up and Effectiveness Evaluation

EU Council to review Minamata Convention effectiveness and COP6 follow-up in March 2026. This evaluation phase signals potential future tightening of global mercury controls and strategic shifts in substance management.

9 Mar 2026, 18:57data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

UK Crematoria Technical Guidance Updated — Mercury Burden-Sharing Deadlines to 2029/2030

UK regulators have updated crematoria technical guidance, clarifying that mercury burden-sharing obligations for unabated facilities will continue until December 2029. Operators must ensure environmental permits and monitoring arrangements reflect these clarified deadlines and emission limits to maintain regulatory compliance.

18 Feb 2026, 16:57gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EEA Joint Committee Incorporates Regulation (EU) 2024/1849 on Mercury Into Annex XX to the EEA Agreement

EEA EFTA states have adopted EU Regulation 2024/1849, extending strict bans on mercury-added products and dental amalgam across the European Economic Area. Manufacturers must ensure compliance with manufacturing and trade restrictions for mercury-containing lamps and medical products throughout the expanded EEA market.

13 Feb 2026, 15:27eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Economic AreaEuropean Union

US EPA Proposes RCRA LDR Treatability Variance for US Ecology Nevada High-Mercury Wastes

The US EPA is proposing a site-specific RCRA treatability variance for high-mercury wastes, allowing for alternative stabilization and disposal methods at a Nevada facility. This move signals a pragmatic regulatory shift for managing complex hazardous waste streams where standard treatment is impractical, offering a potential model for future site-specific disposal flexibility.

11 Feb 2026, 11:17govinfo.govUnited States

Brazil Health Committee Advances Mercury Dental Amalgam Phase-Out Bill For Risk Groups

Brazil's Health Committee approved a bill banning mercury dental amalgam for risk groups and mandating a total phase-out by 2030. Operators must accelerate the transition to mercury-free alternatives and establish strict hazardous waste protocols to meet Minamata Convention obligations.

11 Jan 2026, 18:39camara.leg.brBrazil

Great Britain Adopts 2025–2027 Ban Dates For Additional Mercury-Added Products

Great Britain has implemented phased bans on the manufacture, import, and export of various mercury-added products, with deadlines spanning from late 2025 to 2027. Businesses must audit product portfolios—specifically in lighting, electronics, and precision measurement—to ensure compliance and manage the transition to mercury-free alternatives.

6 Jan 2026, 10:49legislation.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Japan METI Publishes Consultation Results On Third Edition Guidance For Specified Mercury-Using Products

Japan has finalized the 3rd edition of operational guidelines for mercury-using products, effective December 2025. Manufacturers and importers must ensure product portfolios and compliance procedures align with the updated regulatory controls for specified mercury-containing goods.

31 Dec 2025, 10:10public-comment.e-gov.go.jpJapan

Sri Lanka Standards Institution Consults On Stricter Mercury Limits For Cosmetics

Sri Lanka is proposing to slash mercury limits to 0.1 mg/kg across 16 cosmetic product standards, with a consultation closing January 20, 2026. This shift necessitates immediate supply chain audits and the adoption of more sensitive analytical testing methods to maintain market access.

22 Dec 2025, 13:42slsi.lkSri Lanka

US Senate Resolution Recognizes Severe Health Hazards of Mercury Pollution

The US Senate introduced Resolution 560 in December 2025, formally recognizing the severe public health risks of mercury pollution and signaling continued legislative support for stringent emission controls. While non-binding, this resolution reinforces the political mandate for the EPA to maintain or tighten Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), increasing long-term regulatory pressure on industrial emitters.

18 Dec 2025, 15:56legiscan.comUnited States

EU Commission Adopts Delegated Regulation Expanding Mercury-Added Product Prohibitions

The EU Commission has adopted a Delegated Regulation expanding prohibitions on mercury-added products, including certain batteries, lamps, and electrical components. This move signals a tightening of market access for mercury-containing goods, requiring immediate supply chain reviews to ensure compliance with updated international phase-out timelines.

17 Dec 2025, 19:15ec.europa.euEuropean Union

UK Updates Mercury Restrictions Under Environmental Regulations

The UK has finalized phase-out deadlines between 2025 and 2027 for a wide range of mercury-added products, including lighting, sensors, and industrial components. Impacted manufacturers must accelerate the transition to mercury-free alternatives to ensure uninterrupted market access in Great Britain.

9 Dec 2025, 09:41legislation.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Japan Consults on Updated Guidance for Regulating Mercury-added Products

Japan is consulting on updated guidance to phase out the manufacture and sale of specific mercury-added products, including batteries and lamps, by 2026. Companies should review product portfolios and supply chains to mitigate market access risks as Japan synchronizes domestic enforcement with Minamata Convention phase-out targets.

25 Nov 2025, 13:38public-comment.e-gov.go.jpJapan