1.China prohibits the production, import, and export of eight types of mercury containing products
On October 14, 2024, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with several other government agencies, announced a ban on the production, import, and export of eight types of mercury containing products. The ban will take effect on December 31, 2025, covering the following products:
（1） Compact fluorescent lamps with integrated ballasts for general lighting purposes, not exceeding 30 watts, and a single mercury content not exceeding 5 milligrams;
（2） Cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode fluorescent lamps of various lengths used for electronic displays:
1. Short length (≤ 500 millimeters), with a mercury content of no more than 3.5 milligrams per tube;
2. Medium length (>500 millimeters and ≤ 1500 millimeters), with a mercury content of no more than 5 milligrams per tube;
3. Long length (>1500 millimeters), with a mercury content of no more than 13 grams per tube;
（3） Strain gauges used in plethysmography;
（4） Melt pressure sensors, melt pressure transmitters, and melt pressure sensors (excluding electrical and electronic measuring instruments installed in large equipment or used for high-precision measurements where appropriate mercury free alternatives are not available);
（5） Mercury vacuum pump;
（6） Tire balancers and wheel balance weights;
（7） Photographic film and paper;
（8） Propellants for satellites and spacecraft.
The use of dental mercury table gold is prohibited from:
·Treating deciduous teeth (the first set of teeth in human development, also known as baby teeth or deciduous teeth);
·Patients under the age of 15;
·People who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
2. Draft Supplementary Regulation to EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542
The Commission Commissioned Draft Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on Supplementary Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 establishes methods for calculating and verifying the efficiency and material recovery rate of waste battery recycling, including rules for calculating the recycling efficiency and material recovery rate of waste batteries, in compliance with Article 71 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries and waste batteries. The draft also includes verification rules and document formats for the efficiency and material recovery rate of waste battery recycling.
Suggested approval date: January 20, 2025.
3. Expert review of new guidelines for persistent organic pollutant management under the Stockholm Convention
The Expert Meeting on Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP) under the Stockholm Convention was held in Geneva, Switzerland from October 8th to 10th, 2024. Experts have finalized three key guidance documents to minimize the environmental and health risks of chemicals listed in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Experts have reached consensus on guidance documents for short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBDEs), declone (DP), and UV-328. In addition to finalizing guidelines for Annex A chemicals, experts have also developed two parts of guidelines related to Annex C unintentional persistent organic pollutants, including the use of elemental chlorine for pulp production and certain chemical manufacturing processes. They also developed a guidance document on managing sites contaminated with persistent organic pollutants.
