1 
 General Explanation for the 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 symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc. Its long -term 
accumulation may even cause damage to the brain, nervous system, liver, 
kidney, lung and other organs.  In addition, mercury does no t break down easily 
and has the characteristic of biological concentration. If it is not properly 
recycled and treated, it may cause environmental pollution as it circulates in 
the environment, causing harm to humans.  "Gradual restriction 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 paragraph 1 and Annex A of the Convention stipulate 
that manufacture, import or export of m ercury -added switches and relays, 
high-pressure mercury lamps for general lighting purposes, and non -electronic 
measuring instruments (barometers, hygrometers, manometers, thermometers, 
sphygmomanometers, etc.) is prohibited from January 1, 2021.  
The Envir onmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan   
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 amendments to the “Categories and Managemen t of Handling 
for Toxic Chemical Substance” 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, 2021.  It serves as a 
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 electronic equipment and consumer electr onics, the demand 
for the use of mercury -added products has been decreasing.  Therefore, in 2 
 accordance with the authorization provisions of Article 21 of the Waste 
Disposal Act, and in line with the "Minamata Convention on Mercury," this 
announcement was ma de. Starting 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 pr ohibited to 
strengthen domestic mercury control and achieve the goal of maintaining 
environmental safety.  The main points of this announcement are as follows:  
1. Mercury -added products prohibited from being imported. 
(Announcement 1)  
2. The provisions of the exc eptions and exclusions for the prohibition 
of importing mercury -added products, and the relevant documents 
that must be presented by importers applying to the central 
competent authority for review. (Announcement 2)   
3 
  Restrictions on the Importing of Mercur y-Added 
Products  
Announcement  Explanation  
Subject:  "Restriction on the Importing 
of Mercury -Added Products" 
takes effect on January 1, 2021.  It is to specify the name and effective 
date of the announcement.  
Legal basis: Article 21 of the Waste 
Disposal Act. Legal basis  
Announcement ： 
1. 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 lamps for 
general lighting  
c. Non -electronic measuring 
instruments such as barometers, 
hygrometers, pressure gauges, 
thermomete rs (including body 
thermometers), 
sphygmomanometers, etc. But it 
does not include those installed 
in large equipment or used for 
high -precision measurement.  With reference to the import -prohibited 
items and implementation dates of 
mercury -added products l isted in Article 
4 paragraph 1 and Annex A of the 
Minamata Convention on Mercury, the 
imports of mercury -added products such 
as switches and relays, high -pressure 
mercury lamps, and non -electronic 
measuring  instruments are prohibited 
starting January 1, 20 21.  
2. The mercury -added products 
prohibited from being imported in 
the preceding paragraph, if one of 
the following situations is met, may 
be imported with approval by the 
central competent authority after 
supporting documents have been 
submitted for review:  
a. Products essential for civil 
protection and military use.  
b. Products for research, calibration 1. In reference to the provisions of 
Annex A of the Minamata 
Convention on Mercury, the 
exceptions are to exclude the 
mercury -added products for specific 
uses.  
2. Practical management. If there is a 
demand for imp orting mercury -added 
products listed in Announcement 1, 
supporting documents including but 
not limited to supporting documents 4 
 Announcement  Explanation  
of instrumentation, for use as 
reference standard.  
c. Where no feasible mercury -free 
alternative for replacement is 
available for the products in  
Subparagraphs 1 and 3 of the 
preceding paragraph.  of "no viable mercury -free 
alternative products," or other 
supporting documents designated by 
the central competent authority 
should be submitted to the central 
competent authority for review, and 
they may only be imported after the 
approval  by the central competent 
authority.  
  
5 
  
Restrictions on the Importing of Mercury -Added 
Products  
Subject: Restrictions on the Importing of Mercury -Added Products  
Basis: Article 21 of the Waste Disposal Act  
Announced items:   
1. 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 -freque ncy 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 lamps for general lighting.  
c. Non-electronic measuring instruments such as barometers, hy grometers, 
pressure gauges, thermometers (including body thermometers), 
sphygmomanometers, etc. But it does not include those installed in large 
equipment or used for high -precision measurement.  
2. The mercury -added products prohibited from being imported in the 
preceding paragraph, if one of the following situations is met, may be 
imported with approval by the central competent authority after supporting 
documents have been submitted for review:  
a. Products essential for civil protection and military use.  
b. Products for research, calibration of instrumentation, for use as reference 
standard.  
c. Where no feasible mercury -free alternative for replacement is available for 
the products in Subparagraphs 1 and 3 of the preceding paragraph.