G/TBT/N/TPKM/405  
19 February 2020  
(20-1280) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  THE SEPARATE CUSTOMS  TERRITORY OF TAIWAN , PENGHU, 
KINMEN AND MATSU   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Environmental Protection Administration  
No. 83, Sec. 1, Zhoughua Rd.  
Taipei City 100, Taiwan  
Tel.: (886 -2) 2311 -7722 
Fax: (886 -2) 2331 -7741 
E-mail: lichiung.chang@epa.gov.tw   
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shal l be indicated if different from above:   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  A. 
Switches and relays, except very high accuracy capacitance and loss measuring bridges 
and high -frequency radio frequency switches and relays in monitoring and control 
instruments with a maximum mercury content of 20 mg per b ridge, switch or relay. B. 
High-pressure mercury lamps for general lighting. C. The following non -electronic 
measuring instruments, not including those installed in large equipment or used for high -
precision measuring: (A) Barometers. (B) Hygrometers. (C) Manometers. (D) 
Thermometers. (E) Sphygmomanometers.  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  General 
explanation for the draft of restrictions on the importing of mercury -added products (4 
page(s), in English; 2 page(s), in Chi nese)  
6. Description of content:  The Environmental Protection Adminstration previously 
announced the enactment of the "Restrictions on the Imports and Sales of Mercury 
Thermometers" on March 26, 2008. In addition, on July 5, 2019, it announced the 
amendme nts to the "Listed Toxic Chemical Substances and the Handling Control 
Measures" to ban the use of mercury in the manufacture of switches, relays, high -
pressure mercury lamps for general lighting, and non -electronic measuring instruments 
from January 1, 202 1. It is the timetable for the announced ban on the manufacture of 
the aforementioned mercury -added products. As for imports, further control is required. 
In view of the harm of mercury to the environment and human health, with the 
development of electroni c equipment and consumer electronics, the demand for the use 
of mercury -added products has been decreasing. Therefore, to be in line with the 
"Minamata Convention on Mercury", it is announced that from January 1, 2021, the 
imports of mercury -added switches , relays, high -pressure mercury lamps for general 
lighting, and non -electronic measuring instruments (barometers, hygrometers, 
manometers, thermometers, sphygmomanometers, etc.)  are prohibited to strengthen 
domestic mercury control and achieve the goal of maintaining enviromental safety.   G/TBT/N/TPKM/405  
 
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  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Minamata Convention on Mercury; Protection of human health or safety; 
Protection of the environment  
8. Relevant documents:   
Waste Disposal Act, Minamata Convention on Mercury, Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, 
Regulations for Governing the Management of Medical Device, and CNS 15663.  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 January 2021  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
WTO/TBT Enquiry Point  
Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection  
Ministry of Economic Affairs  
No. 4, Sec. 1, Jinan Rd.  
Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100, Taiwan  
Tel.: (886 -2) 3343 -5140 
Fax: (886 -2) 2343 -1804 
E-mail: tbtenq@bsmi.gov. tw 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/TBT/TPKM/20_1290_00_x.pdf  
https://mem bers.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/TBT/TPKM/20_1290_00_e.pdf