Ministry of Environment Tightens Mercury Content Limits for Button Batteries, Effective July 1

(CNA Taipei, June 30) The Ministry of Environment announced today that it is tightening mercury content limits for button-cell batteries to align with international regulations. The new standard will officially take effect on July 1, with the aim of phasing out high-mercury batteries and further reducing heavy metal pollution at the source.

The Ministry of Environment issued a press release announcing amendments to certain provisions and Table 1 of the "Restrictions on the Manufacture, Import, and Sale of Dry Batteries." These amendments include adding button-type zinc-air batteries to the scope of management and tightening mercury content limits for button-cell batteries, both of which will be implemented starting July 1.

The Resource Circulation Administration of the Ministry of Environment explained that one of the key revisions is the inclusion of button-type zinc-air batteries within the scope of regulation. Button-type zinc-air batteries are widely used in products such as hearing aids. Previously, they were not included in the management scope of designated batteries under this announcement. With this revision, they will be managed alongside other button-cell batteries, in line with international regulatory trends.

Furthermore, the heavy metal content standards for button-cell batteries are being tightened concurrently. The current mercury content limit for button-cell batteries is 5ppm. Starting July 1, this will be adjusted to a maximum mercury content of 1ppm, while the cadmium content limit will remain at a maximum of 20ppm. This will ensure that button-cell batteries and non-button-cell batteries are subject to the same mercury content control standards.

The Administration stated that considering the need for product transition and market衔接 for businesses, relevant transitional measures have been established. Button-cell batteries legally manufactured or imported before June 30, or items containing button-cell batteries, can continue to be legally sold after July 1.

The Administration further explained that for businesses manufacturing or importing designated batteries or items containing designated batteries domestically, mercury content confirmation documents for button-cell batteries obtained before June 30 will lose their validity from July 1. However, if the mercury content in the original approved document already complies with the new standard (less than or equal to 1ppm), this restriction will not apply, and the documents can continue to be used according to their original validity period.

The Administration mentioned that the United Nations' Minamata Convention on Mercury has been progressively restricting the manufacture and circulation of mercury-containing products. Phasing out high-mercury batteries is a global consensus, and this regulatory amendment is expected to further reduce heavy metal pollution at the source. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150630

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