,On 12 February 2026 (Republic of China Year 115), Ministry of Environment (MOENV), Taiwan, announced a draft amendment to the "Regulations for Restricting the Import of Mercury-Containing Products" (originally established August 25, 2020, effective January 1, 2021). The amendment, published in Executive Yuan Gazette Vol. 032 No. 031 (Agriculture Environmental Section), is based on Article 21 of the Waste Disposal Act and aligns with the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury to strengthen domestic mercury management and phase out non-essential uses. Key amendment points include: 1. Immediate prohibition (effective May 1, 2026) on importing additional mercury-containing products, such as fluorescent lamps ≤30W with built-in ballasts, cold/external electrode fluorescent lamps for displays, strain gauges for volume recorders, mercury vacuum pumps, tire balancers/wheel weights, photographic films/paper, satellite/spacecraft propellants, melt pressure converters/transmitters/sensors, and other electrical/electronic measuring instruments (adding 8 categories + 3 electronic items to existing prohibitions like switches/relays and high-pressure mercury lamps). 2. Phased bans: Compact fluorescent lamps and halo phosphate phosphor straight/non-straight tube fluorescent lamps prohibited from January 1, 2027 (Year 116); tri-colour phosphor straight/non-straight tube fluorescent lamps from January 1, 2028 (Year 117). 3. Conditional exceptions (Item 4): Imports permitted with central authority approval and proof documents for public/military needs, research/education/instrument calibration, or where mercury-free alternatives are unavailable for specific high-precision or large-equipment uses (expanded to include experimentation/education and aligned with permitted mercury uses). The draft removes certain provisos (e.g., exemptions for low-mercury switches/relays and non-electronic instruments) to harmonise with toxic chemical controls. Public comments are invited for 60 days (until April 14, 2026).
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