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Japan Announces Ban on Production of Ten Products Containing Mercury

from CIRS by

Recently, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Meti), in conjunction with the Ministry of the Environment (MoE), announced a significant policy under the Act on Preventing Mercury Pollution of the Environment. The policy will phase out the production of ten specified products containing mercury, with set dates for the implementation of the bans. This measure will be gradually implemented starting in 2026, and it involves various types of batteries and lighting equipment, as well as certain industrial sensors.

The specified products and the implementation dates of the bans are as follows:

Specified  products Implementation Date
Button zinc silver oxide batteries with a mercury content <1% and button zinc air batteries with a mercury content <2% January 1, 2026
Compact fluorescent lamps with integrated ballast (CFL.i) for general lighting purposes that are ≤ 30 watts with a mercury content not exceeding 5 mg per lamp burner January 1, 2026

Cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) and external electrode

fluorescent lamps (EEFL) of all lengths for electronic displays, not

included in the listing directly below.

  1. short length (≤ 500 mm) with mercury content exceeding 3.5 mg per lamp
  2. medium length (> 500 mm and ≤ 1 500 mm) with mercury content exceeding 5 mg per lamp
  3. long length (> 1500 mm) with mercury content exceeding 13 mg per
January 1, 2026

Melt pressure transducers, melt pressure transmitters, and melt

pressure sensors, except those

installed in large-scale equipment or those used for high precision

measurement, where no suitable mercury- free alternative is available
January 1, 2026

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes that are > 30 watts

January 1, 2027

Compact fluorescent lamps with a non-integrated ballast (CFL.ni) for general lighting purposes that are ≤ 30 watts with a mercury content not exceeding 5 mg per lamp burner

January 1, 2027

Linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs) for general lighting purposes:

  1. Halophosphate phosphor ≤ 40 watts with a mercury content not exceeding 10 mg per lamp
  2. Halophosphate phosphor > 40 watts
January 1, 2027

Non-linear fluorescent lamps (NFLs) (e.g., U-bend and circular) for general lighting purposes:

b. Halophosphate phosphor, all wattages
January 1, 2027

Linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs) for general lighting purposes:

  1. Triband phosphor <60 watts with a mercury content not exceeding 5 mg per lamp
  2. Triband phosphor ≥ 60 watts with a mercury content not exceeding 5mg per lamp
  3. Triband phosphor ≥ 60 watts with a mercury content exceeding 5mg per lamp
January 1, 2028

Non-linear fluorescent lamps (NFLs) (e.g., U-bend and circular) for general lighting purposes:

a. Triband phosphor, all wattages

January 1, 2028

This policy aims to protect human health and the environment from the hazards of mercury and to ensure the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The government will continue to monitor the implementation of the above policy and assess the long-term impact of these products on the environment and health. Moreover, the phased ban on the production of ten products also promotes the research and application of mercury-free or low-mercury technologies, contributing to the green transformation of the industry.

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