Hong Kong, China will completely prohibit the sale and distribution of goods containing mercury

To lessen the environmental impact of anthropogenic emissions of mercury and its compounds, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) of Hong Kong, China, recently announced that the provisions in the “Mercury Control Ordinance” pertaining to the prohibition of the supply and sale of regulated mercury-containing products will go into effect on December 1 of this year.

Aiming to completely enforce the Minamata Convention in Hong Kong, the Mercury Control Ordinance addresses the import, export, storage, and use of mercury and its mixes and compounds, as well as the import, export, and production of goods containing mercury. The industry will be further motivated to switch to safe, mercury-free alternatives by the impending prohibition.

Although mercury is a naturally occurring heavy metal, ecosystems and human health are seriously threatened by its severe toxicity. The EPD highlights that Hong Kong will outright prohibit the supply and sale of the following mercury-containing products as of December 1st of this year:

1. Batteries
2. Relays and switches
3. Small fluorescent lights for general illumination
4. General lighting with linear fluorescent lights
5. Mercury vapour lamps with high pressure for general lighting
6. External electrode fluorescent lights and cold cathode fluorescent lights for electronic displays
7. Cosmetics with more than 1 ppm of mercury
8. Topical antiseptics and biocides
9. Measurement tools that are not electronic, like barometers, sphygmomanometers, and thermometers

There are now enough mercury-free substitutes on the market, and the majority of the regulated mercury-containing products in Hong Kong have been essentially phased out. Furthermore, no local manufacturers use mercury or mercury compounds in their manufacturing, therefore it is anticipated that this legislation will have very little effect on the general public and business.

To improve industry awareness and compliance, the EPD has written to chambers of commerce, suppliers, and sellers to alert them of the restriction. The EPD will provide a free collection and disposal service to help with the processing of any leftover stock of regulated mercury-containing products. To guarantee compliance, relevant businesses can apply for this service between December 2, 2024, and January 17, 2025.

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