Recently, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, together with the Ministry of the Environment, announced that the Cabinet has passed a resolution to revise certain provisions of the Mercury Pollution Control Law Enforcement Order. The main purpose of this amendment is to halt the production activities of mercury-containing products, including specific batteries and fluorescent lamps, to further prevent mercury pollution in the environment.
Background
The revision of the Mercury Pollution Control Law aims to prevent environmental pollution caused by mercury, ensure the accurate implementation of the Minamata Convention, and protect human health and the living environment by taking necessary measures against the production of specific mercury-containing products. According to the requirements of the Minamata Convention, the Japanese government designated these specific mercury-containing products under Article 1 of the Mercury Pollution Control Law Enforcement Order and prohibited their production.
According to the revised ordinance, the production ban will be phased in starting January 1 of 2026, 2027, and 202for different categories. The specific implementation timetable is as follows:
| Product | Implementation date | |
| 1 | Button-type silver oxide batteries and button-type zinc-air batteries | January 2026 |
| 2 | Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL.ni) for general lighting | January 2027 |
| 3 | Ball-shaped fluorescent lamps (CFL.i) for general lighting | January 2026 or January 2027 |
| 4 | Cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) and external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFL) for electronic displays | January 2026 |
| 5 | Electronic manometers (melt pressure transducers and melt pressure sensors) (excluding products installed in large equipment or used for high-precision measurements where no suitable mercury-free alternatives are available) | January 2026 |
| 6 | Straight-tube fluorescent lamps (LFLs) for general lighting | January 2027 or January 2028 |
| 7 | Other general lighting fluorescent lamps (such as circular fluorescent lamps) (NFLs), excluding 2, 3, 6 | January 2027 or January 2028 |
This decision marks a significant step forward for Japan in environmental protection and public health, aimed at reducing mercury pollution in the environment and protecting ecosystems and human health from the dangers of mercury.
