Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has published a consultation document on the proposed amendments of the Products Containing Mercury Regulations.
The purpose of the consultation is to inform stakeholders of the key elements of the proposed amendments and obtain feedback. Environment and Climate Change Canada ECCC invites stakeholders to provide comments by April 2nd, 2018.
The proposed amendments to the Products Containing Mercury Regulations aim to:
- fully align with requirements under the Minamata Convention for mercury-containing products, including lamps and mercury containing catalysts to produce polyurethane
- align further with other international initiatives
- clarify certain aspects of the regulations and
- address some administrative issues to facilitate the implementation of the regulations.
The main elements of the proposed amendments are outlined below:
- Adjustment of mercury content limits allowed for certain exempted products.
- Removing exemption or adding an exemption end date for catalysts used in the manufacturing of polyurethane.
- Lowering mercury content limit for compact fluorescent lamps for general lighting purposes.
- Adding an end date for the exemption for the compact fluorescent lamps.
- To remove the exemption for automobile headlamps.
- To clarify that mercury-containing lamps used for pest control purposes, such as UV lamps.
- To add a personal use exclusion in section 2 of the regulations to allow the entry in Canada of mercury-containing products used or intended to be used for a personal use.
- Adjustments to certain elements of the labelling requirements.
- Amendments to testing requirements to broaden the accreditation bodies recognized under the regulations.
- Amendments to the reporting and record keeping requirements.
For more information on the current Regulations, you may consult the compliance guidance document or the Frequently Asked Questions document.
For any inquiries regarding the Products Containing Mercury Regulations, please contact the Products Division at 1-888-391-3426 or by email at ec.produits-products.ec@canada.ca.