G/TBT/N/SGP/30  
 
13 October 2016  
(16-5514) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original : English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member : SINGAPORE   
If applicable, name of local government involved  (Article 3.2 and 7.2) : 
2. Agency responsible:  
National Environment Agency (NEA)  
Ms Stefanie Koh  
Scientific Officer, Pollution Control Department  
40 Scotts Road, #12 -00 Environment Building  
Singapore 228231  
Tel.: (65) 6708 -6140 (DID)  
Fax: (65) 6836 -2294 
Email : stefanie_koh@nea.gov.sg   
Ms Jo anna Hy Lim  
Senior Engineer, Pollution Control Department  
40 Scotts Road, #12 -00 Environment Building  
Singapore 228231  
Tel.: (65) 6708 -6139 (DID)  
Fax: (65) 6836 -2294 
Email : joanna_hy_lim@nea.gov.sg   
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  shall be indicated if different from above :  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.1 0.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [ X], 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) :  
1) Zinc 8208;Carbon Batteries:  
 HS: 85068010 : Primary cells & batteries of  Zinc carbon of external volume not 
over 300 cubic cm  
 HS: 85068020 : Primary cells & batteries of Zinc carbon of external volume not 
over 300 cubic cm  
2) Alkaline Batteries : 
 HS: 85068091 : Other primary cells & batteries of  external volume not over 300 
cubic cm  
 HS: 85068099 : Other primary cells & batteries of  external volume over 300 
cubic cm  
3) Mercury Oxide Batteries:  
 HS: 85063000 : Primary cells and batteries of mercuric oxide  
4) Zinc Silver Oxide Batteries:  
 HS: 85064000  : Primary cells and batteries of Sil ver Oxide  G/TBT/N/SGP/30  
 
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  5) Zinc Air Batteries:  
 HS: 85066010  : Primary cells and batteries of Air Zinc of external volume not 
over 300 cubic cm  
 HS: 85066090  : Primary cells and batteries of Air Zinc of external volume over 
300 cubic cm  
5. Title, number of pages  and langu age(s)  of the notified document : 
1. Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) (103 pages, in English) The 
document is available online at http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/  
2. Proposed Tightening of Controls for Mercury -Added Batteries and Button Cell 
Batterie s in Singapore (6 page s, in English) (See Attachment ) 
6. Description of content : NEA is proposing a plan to phase out the use of mercury -added 
batteries (including button cell batteries) containing more than 5ppm mercury (by weight) 
per cell, under the Se cond Schedule of the existing Environmental Protection and 
Management Act (EPMA).The phase -out would mean that companies cannot manufacture, 
import and export mercury -added batteries (including button cell batteries) in and into 
Singapore, by 2018.  
All bat teries as listed in Section 4 above, to be supplied or for sale in Singapore must meet 
the prescribed restrictions (as shown below) if they are manufactured or imported for sale 
in Singapore. The restrictions would be effected 1 year from the date of inclu sion in the 
2nd schedule of the EPMA, and which NEA plans to gazette in 1 st half of 2017.  
The following batteries (including button cell batteries) sold as stand -alone products, are 
subjected to the restriction of not exceeding 5ppm mercury (by weight) per  cell: 
1) Zinc Carbon batte ries 
2) Alkaline batteries  
3) Mercury Oxide batteries  
4) Zinc Silver Oxide batteries  
5) Zinc Air batteries  
For batteries (covering the above types of batteries) bundled with products in the same 
packaging, companies are required to show proof o f compliance only upon request by the 
authority. Products with embedded mercury -added batteries and button cell batteries are 
exempted from controls.  
7. Objective and rationale , including the nature of urgent problems where applicable : 
Objective : To prote ct and enhance the environment by minimising the end -of-life 
environmental impact of batteries at the end of their useful life.  
Rationale : Singapore signed the Minamata Convention on 10 October 2013 to demonstrate 
the country 's commitment to safeguard the  environment. The Minamata Convention on 
Mercury (Convention) is a global, legally binding instrument that seeks "to protect the 
human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury 
and mercury compounds."  
While the Convent ion has not yet entered into force, Singapore has taken steps to develop 
strategies to comply with the obligations of the Convention. These obligations include the 
phase -out of mercury -added products such as fluorescent lamps, batteries and measuring 
devices with mercury threshold limits by 2020, and for Parties to phase out the use of 
mercury and mercury compounds for manufacturing processes identified in the 
Convention. Since 1992, Singapore has prohibited the import of zinc -carbon batteries 
containing mo re than 10ppm mercury (by weight) per cell, alkaline batteries containing 
more than 250ppm mercury (by weight) per cell and mercury oxide batteries for local sale 
under NEA 's Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA). All button cell 
batteries are  currently exempted under the EPMA.  
To align Singapore's efforts with the obligations under the Minamata Convention and 
prevent the proliferation of obsolete mercury -added batteries, NEA plans to accelerate the 
phase -out schedule for all mercury -added bat teries, from 2020 to 2018, as well as to 
tighten our existing controls and expand the control to include button cell batteries that 
are otherwise exempted under the Minamata Convention.  G/TBT/N/SGP/30  
 
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  8. Relevant documents : 
1. Environmental Protection and Management Act (E PMA) (103 pages, in English) The 
document is available online at http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/  
2. Proposed Tightening of Controls for Mercury -added Batteries and Button Cell 
Batteries in Singapore, 6 pages, in English  (See Attachment ) 
9. Proposed date of adoption : Notice will be publish ed in the Republic of Singapore' s 
Government Gazette when adopted   
Proposed date of entry into force : Notice will be published prior to the date of entry into 
force  
10. Final date for  comments : 60 days from the date of notification  
11. Texts available from : National enquiry point  [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
number s and e mail and website address es, if available , of other body : 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/TBT/SGP/16_4304_00_e.pdf