Environment Canada has announced that its Products Containing Mercury Regulations will come into effect on November 8, 2015. The Products Containing Mercury Regulations prohibit the manufacture and import of products containing mercury or any of its compounds, with some exemptions for essential products which have no technically or economically viable alternatives (e.g. certain medical and research applications, and dental amalgam). More information can be found in the Canada Gazette.
The Products Containing Mercury Regulations…
- Prohibit the manufacture and import of most mercury containing products into Canada;
- Exempt and set content limits on the maximum quantity of mercury in certain essential products such as compact fluorescent lamps, straight fluorescent tubes, and neon signs;
- Require manufacturers and importers of exempted mercury containing products to report to Environment Canada every 3 years;
- Require labelling of exempted mercury containing products so that consumers are aware of the presence of mercury, safe handling procedures, measures to take in case of accidental breakage, and options for disposal and recycling.
- The regulations apply to any product that contains mercury. However, there are certain products exempted under these Regulations listed in Schedule 1.
The following products are exempted:
- (a) waste;
- (b) a product that is at the end of its useful life and that is intended to be recycled;
- (c) a food, drug, or cosmetic as defined in section 2 of the Food and Drugs Act;
- (d) a veterinary biologic as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Health of Animals Act;
- (e) a surface coating material as defined in subsection 1(1) of the Surface Coating Materials Regulations or a surface coating material applied to a toy regulated under the Toys Regulations;
- (f) a pest control product as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Pest Control Products Act;
- (g) a feed as defined in section 2 of the Feeds Act;
- (h) a fertilizer as defined in section 2 of the Fertilizers Act;
- (i) an explosive regulated under the Explosives Act;
- (j) ammunition and explosives under the direction or control of the Minister of National Defence;
- (k) a product, other than a battery, that has a mercury concentration of 0.1% or less by weight in homogeneous materials;
- (l) a battery, other than a button cell battery, that has a mercury concentration of 0.0005% or less by weight in homogeneous materials;
- (m) beginning on January 1, 2016, a button cell battery that has a mercury concentration of 0.0005% or less by weight in homogeneous materials;
- (n) from January 1, 2016 until December 31, 2019, a button cell battery that is incorporated into a medical device that is intended to remain in the body for at least 30 consecutive days;
- (o) ores, concentrates and by-products of metallurgic operations; and
- (p) an on-road vehicle as defined in subsection 1(1) of the On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations that is of the 2016 model year or of a previous model year as determined under section 5 of those Regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Products Containing Mercury Regulations provides more information, and can be found on the Environment Canada website.
You can also view the full text of the regulations on the Canada Gazette.
For more information contact:
Products Division
Chemical Sectors Directorate
Environment Canada
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard, 9th Floor
Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3
Phone number: 819-938-4483 / 1-888-391-3426 (information)
Fax number: 819-938-4480 / 1-888-391-3695
E-mail address: products.produits@ec.gc.ca