1 
 General Explanation for the Draft of Restrictions on 
the Importing of Mercury -Added  Products  
Mercury can enter  the human body through inhalation or swallowing  and 
cause harm . Once it is in the body, it is difficult to be excreted, and it  may cause 
symptom s such as  nausea, vomiting , abdominal pain , etc . Its l ong-term 
accumulation may even cause damage  to the brain, nervous system, liver, 
kidney, lung and other organs . In addition, mercury does not  break down  
easily  and has the characteristic  of biological concentration. If it is not properly 
recover ed and treated , it may cause environmental pollution as it circulat es in 
the environment, causing harm to human s . "Grad ual restricti on and eventual  
ban of mercury" has become an international trend. The United Nations ’ 
Minamata Convention on Mercury entered into force on August 16, 2017.  The 
provisions of Article 4  paragra ph 1 and Annex A of the Convention stipulate that 
manufacture , import or export of mercury -added  switches and relays, 
high-pressure mercury lamps for general lighting purposes, and non -electronic 
measuring  instruments (barometer s, hygrometer s, manometers , ther mometer s, 
sphygmomanometers , etc.) is prohibited from January 1, 2021 . 
The Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan  announced 
the enactment of the "Restriction s on the Import s and Sales of Mercury 
Thermometers"  on March 26, 2008 . In addition, on July 5, 20 19, it announced 
the amendments 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, 20 21. It serves as a  timetable for the 
announce d ban on the manufacture of the aforementioned mercury -added  
products. As for i mports , further control is required.  In view of the harm of 
mercury to the environment and human health, with the development of 
electronic equipment and consumer electronics, the demand for the use of 
mercury -added  products has been decreasing.  Therefore, to be in line with the 2 
 "Minamata Convention on Mercury ," it is announced t hat from January 1, 20 21, 
the imports of mercury -added  switches , relays, high -pressure mercury lamps for 
general lighting , and non -electronic measuring  instruments (barometer s, 
hygrometers, manometers, thermometers, sphygmomanometers, etc.)  is 
prohibited to strengthen domestic mercury control  and achieve the goal of 
maintaining environmental safet y. The main points of this announcement are as 
follows:  
I. It is announce d to take effect on January 1, 2021 . (Subject of the 
draft)  
II. Mercury -added  product s prohibited from being import ed. (Draft ’s 
announcement one ) 
III. Exclusion from ban on import ing mercury -added  products (Draft’s 
announcement two)  
3 
 Draft of Restrictions on  the Importing of 
Mercury -Added  Products  
Announcement  Explanation  
Subject:  "Restriction on the Importing of 
Mercury -Added  Products" takes 
effect  on January 1, 20 21. It is to s pecify the name and effective 
date of the announcement . 
Legal basis: Article 21 of the Waste 
Disposal Act.  Legal basis  
Announcement ： 
I. The imports of the following 
mercury -added  products are 
prohibited ： 
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 bridge,  switch or relay . 
B. High -pressure mercury lamp s for 
general lighting  
C. The following non -electronic 
measuring instruments, not 
includ ing those installed in large 
equipment or used for 
high -precision measuring : 
(A) Barometer s 
(B) Hygrometer s 
(C) Manometer s 
(D) Thermometer s 
(E) Sphygmomanometer s With reference to the import -prohibited 
items and implementation dates of 
mercury -added  products listed in 
Article 4  paragraph  1 and Annex A of 
the Minamata Convention on Mercury, 
the imports of m ercury -added  products 
such as switches and relays, 
high -pressure mercury lamps, and 
non-electronic measuring  instruments  
are prohibited starting  January 1, 20 21.  
II. The m ercury -added  products prohibited 
from being import ed in the preceding 
paragraph , with one of the following 
conditions , are excluded:   In reference  to the provisions of Annex 
A of the Minamata Convention on 
Mercury , it is to exclude the 
mercury -added  products for specific 4 
 Announcement  Explanation  
A. Products essential for ci vil 
protection and military use . 
B. Products for research, calibration 
of instrumentation, or use as 
reference standard . 
C. Where no feasible mercury -free 
alternative for replacement is  
available . uses  from  the impor t prohibition .