1 
 Restrictions on the Manufacture, Import, 
and Sale of Dry Cell Batteries 
 
Overview of Draft Revision 
 
Article 21 of the Waste Disposal Act  stipulates that “For those articles or the 
packaging and containers thereof for which there is concern of serious pollution 
to the environment, the cen tral competent authority may officially announce the 
prohibition of use or the restriction of  manufacturing, import, sales and use.” 
With reference to the European Union’s Battery Directive, and in accordance 
with the provisions of Article 21 of the Waste Disposal Act , on March 27, 2006 
the Environmental Protection Admini stration (EPA), Executive Yuan, 
promulgated the Restrictions on the Manufacture,  Import, and Sale of Dry Cell 
Batteries ; since then, the Restrictions  have been revised twice.  
In response to international trends in relation to dry cell battery management 
involving the EU, the United Nations E nvironment Programme (UNEP), China, 
etc., this new revision expands the scope of the Restrictions  to cover button cell 
batteries, and also adds new heavy meta l restriction items and more rigorous 
controls. At the same time, in line with  the principles of local autonomy and 
delegation of responsibilit y, local government author ities are given responsibility 
for related document verifica tion and review work. The key revisions included in 
this draft revision of the Restrictions on the Manufacture, Import, and Sale of Dry 
Cell Batteries  are as follows: 
1. In order to ensure that there is sufficient time to implement the 
managerial requirements relating to the new designated battery types – 
including alkaline manganese button cell  batteries, and silver oxide 
batteries – a grace period of specified length will be granted (Revision Announcement Subject). 
2. Referencing international trends in the management of heavy metals in 
dry cell batteries, the methods by which management of dry cell 
batteries is implemented in Taiw an have been reviewed, and the 
definitions used in the Restrictions  have been revised. This revision 
includes the designation of alkalin e manganese butto n cell batteries 
and silver oxide batteries as de signated battery types, and the  
2 
 incorporation of clear provisions governing the manufacturing, import 
and sale of such batteries (Revision Announcement Item 1). 
3. Maximum permitted heavy metal content levels for designated 
batteries, and a timetable for the a doption of these restrictions, have 
been formulated (Revision Announcem ent Item 2 and Attached Table 
1). 
4. Items have been formulated with  which manufacturers, importers and 
vendors etc. are required to comply  (Revision Announcement Items 3 – 
5). 
5. Restrictions have been imposed on the content and character size of 
labels (Revision Announcement Items 3 and 4) 
6. Additions and revisions have been  made to the document verification 
items (Revision Announcement Items 6 – 10 and Attached Tables 2 and 
3). 
7. The capping of the period of valid ity of the initial application for 
document verification at a maximum of two years has been cancelled, 
and a clear stipulation has been ma de regarding the period of validity 
of verification documents issued during the grace period (Revision 
Announcement Item 7).  
3 
 Draft Revision of the Restrictions on the Manufacture, 
Import, and Sale of Dry Cell Batteries 
 
Public Announcement – Table of Comparison 
 
Revised Announcement Current Announcement Explanatory Notes 
Subject: 
Revision of the  Restrictions on 
the Manufacture, Import, and 
Sale of Dry Cell Batteries , 
with the provisisions relating 
to button cell batteries taking 
effect from January 1, 2017, 
and the remaining provisions 
taking effect from January 1, 
2015.  
 Subject: 
Restrictions on the 
Manufacture, Import, and Sale 
of Dry Cell Batteries . 
 1. The date of implementation has 
been added. 
2. A grace period has been granted 
to enable companies involved with the new types of 
designated batteries added by 
this revision – including button cell alkaline manganese 
batteries, mercuric oxide 
batteries and silver oxide 
batteries, etc. – to have 
sufficient time to prepare to 
comply with the related battery management requirements.  
Basis:  
Article 21, Waste Disposal Act . Basis:  
Article 21, Waste Disposal Act . Unchanged. 
Announced Items: 
I. Terms used in this Official 
Announcement are defined as follows: 
A. “Designated battery” means a 
battery that is the subject of 
official designation, including 
the following types o f 
one-time-use battery:  
1. Non- button type cell 
batteries:  
(1) “Manganese-zinc 
battery” means a 
battery composed of  
manganese dioxide as 
the effective anodic material and zinc as the effective cathodic material, and that uses an aqueous solution o
f 
a neutral salt such as 
ammonium chloride or zinc chloride as the electrolyte; this battery is commonly known as 
a carbon zinc battery. 
(2)
 “Alkaline manganese 
battery” means a 
battery that uses Announced Items: 
I. Terms used in this Official 
Announcement are defined as follows: 
A. “Dry cell battery” means a 
battery in which the 
electrolyte is not able 1. to 
flow freely.  
B. ¨ One-time-use battery” 
means a battery constructed 
to employ chemical energy 
derived from chemical 
reactions in accordance with 
electrochemical methods so 
as to directly discharge 
electricity, and so that the 
electric potential produced by 
the chemical reaction is 
irreversible.  
C. “Designated battery” means a 
one-time-use battery that is either a manganese-zinc
battery or a non- button type 
alkaline manganese battery . 
D. ¨Manganese-zinc battery” 
means a battery that uses 
manganese dioxide as the 
effective anodic material and 
zinc as the effective cathodic 1. In 2013, both the European Union 
(EU) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) introduced strict controls on the 
mercury content of batteries, with 
the aim of reducing the amount of heavy metals used in batteries, and the amount of waste created that contains heavy metals, 
through at-source controls. In 
response to this initiative, the Restrictions  have been revised to 
designate three additional categories of one-time-use battery as designated batteries: button cell 
alkaline manganese batteries, 
mercuric oxide batteries, and silver oxide batteries. 
2. The definitions adopted for the 
three types of one-time-use 
battery in question - button cell 
alkaline manganese batteries, mercuric oxide batteries, and silver oxide batteries – are based on the relevant CNS standard. 
3. A “dry cell battery” is a battery in 
which the electrolyte is not able to flow freely. 
4. The order in which the definitions  
4 
 manganese dioxide as 
the effective anodic 
material and zinc as the 
effective cathodic material and uses an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide as the electrolyte; this 
battery is commonly 
known as an alkaline 
battery.  
2. Button cell batteries:  
(1) “Alkaline manganese 
battery.”  
(2) “Mercuric oxide 
battery” means a 
battery that uses 
mercuric oxide as the 
effective anodic 
material and zinc or 
magnesium as the 
effective cathodic 
material.  
(3) “Silver oxide battery” 
means a battery that is 
composed of silver 
oxide as the effective 
anodic material and 
zinc as the effective 
cathodic material and 
that uses an aqueous 
solution of an alkali 
metal hydroxide as the 
electrolyte.  
B. “One-time use battery” means 
a battery constructed to 
employ chemical energy 
derived from chemical 
reactions in accordance with 
electrochemical methods so as 
to directly discharge 
electricity, and so that the 
electric potential produced by 
the chemical reaction is 
irreversible, and where the 
electrolyte cannot flow freely.  
C. “Operation” means engaging 
in the following types of 
activity relating to the 
manufacturing, importation or 
sale of designated batteries:  
1. “Manufacturing”  means the 
manufacture of designated 
batteries and/or products 
equipped with designated batteries (such as toys, material, and that uses an 
aqueous solution of a neutral 
salt such as ammonium 
chloride or zince chloride as the electrolyte; this battery is commonly known as a carbon zinc battery. 
E. “Alkaline manganese battery” 
means a battery that uses 
manganese dioxide as the effective anodic material and zinc as the effective cathodic material and uses an aqueous 
solution of an alkali metal 
hydroxide as the electrolyte. 
F. “Manufacturer”
means an 
enterprise that engages in the manufacture of designated 
batteries and products 
equipped with designated 
batteries (such as toys, clocks, 
appliances, etc.), or an enterprise that installs designated batteries to a 
product after production and 
importation. 
G. “Importer”
means a business 
that engages in the importation of designated 
batteries, including when the 
designated batteries are attached to other goods (such as toys, clocks, appliances, etc.). 
H. “Vendor”
means a business 
that engages in the sale of designated batteries, including when the designated batteries are attached to other goods (such as toys, clocks, 
appliances, etc.). 
 are presented has been revised in 
line with the management 
framework, with the following 
order being adopted: designated batteries, one-time-use dry cell batteries, and operation. 
5. The following definitions in the 
current version of the 
Announcement – I. 3 (Designated 
battery), I. 4 (Manganese-zinc battery), and I. 5 (Alkaline manganese battery) – have been combined under the definition A. 
(Designated battery) in the revised 
version. 
6. The following definitions in the 
current version of the Announcement – I. 1 (Dry cell 
battery) and I. 2 (One-time-use 
battery) – have been combined under the definition B. (One-time-use battery) in the revised version. 
7. The following definitions in the 
current version of the 
Announcement – I. 6 (Manufacturer), I. 7 (Importer) and I. 1 (Vendor) – have been combined under the definition C. 
(Operation) in the current version. 
5 
 clocks, appliances, etc.) or 
the installing  of designated 
batteries to a product after 
production and importation. 
2. “Importing”  means the 
importation of designated batteries and/or
 designated 
batteries when attached to 
other goods (such as toys, 
clocks, appliances, etc.). 
3. “Sale”  means the 
wholesaling or retailing  
sale of designated batteries 
and/or  designated batteries 
when attached to other goods (such as toys, clocks, appliances, etc.). 
II. The maximum permitted heavy 
metal content levels for designated batteries, and the 
timetable for the adoption of 
these restrictions, are as shown in Table 1.  1. This is a new item.
 
2. In order to effectively reduce the 
negative impact that heavy metals 
contained in batteries have on the 
environment, maximum permitted heavy metal content levels have been formulated for designated 
batteries; taking into account the 
need to give related firms time to 
prepare for the new restrictions, these restrictions are being implemented in different time phases. 
3. In response to the global trend 
towards more rigorous 
management of the heavy metal content of batteries, and referencing the regulations adopted in the EU, the U.S. and 
China, as well as the at-source 
controls provided for by the U.N.’s 
Minamata Convention on 
Mercury , this revision of the 
Restrictions  tightens up the 
existing provisions regarding the 
maximum permitted mercury content of batteries (applying to managanese-zine batteries and non-
button type alkaline 
manganese batteries) and also 
imposes new restrictions on 
maximum permitted cadmium content; in addition, the scope of 
batteries to which restrictions on 
maximum permitted mercury and 
cadmium content apply is 
expanded to include several new types of battery (button cell type alkaline manganese batteries,  
6 
 mercuric oxide batteries and silver 
oxide batteries), so as to facilitate 
at-source reduction of the quantity 
of heavy metals used and discarded in waste. 
III. Manufacturers are required to 
comply with the following 
provisions:  
A. A manufacturer must apply 
to the competent authority at 
the municipal, county or city 
government level for a 
document confirming 
designated battery mercury 
and cadmium content before 
manufacturing may take 
place.  
B. If the manufacturer of a 
designated battery attached 
to another product uses a 
designated battery for which 
a confirmation document 
number has already been 
obtained, and obtains the 
consent of the manufacturer 
or importer to which the 
confirmation document in 
question was originally 
issued, then the 
manufacturer does not need 
to make a new application 
for a confirmation 
document.  
C. A designated battery or 
product to which a 
designated battery is 
attached shall have the 
confirmation document 
number clearly labelled on 
its packaging. The width and 
height of the characters on 
the label may not be less 
than 0.3 centimeters.  II. The manufacture or import of 
designated batteries may begin 
only after the manufacturer or 
importer has submitted an 
application to the central 
competent authority that includes 
a testing report that indicates said 
batteries have a mercury 
concentration lower than 5 ppm, 
and the said authority has issued 
confirmation documents.  
III. If the manufacturer or importer of 
a designated battery attached to 
another product uses a 
designated battery for which the 
central competent authority has 
issued a confirmation document, 
and obtains the consent of the 
original designated battery 
confirmation document 
applicant, the manufacturer or 
importer does not need to 
re-apply for a confirmation 
document.  
IV. Manufacturers and importers 
shall attach labeling to 
designated battery packaging that 
clearly states the phrase “This 
battery complies with 
Environmental Protection 
Administration regulations on 
mercury content” and the 
confirmation document number 
issued by the central competent 
authority.The width or height of 
the characters may not be less 
than 0.3 centimeters.  1. This item has been modified. 
2. The provisions of Items II to IV in 
the current version of the 
Announcement relating to manufacturers have been combined in this item. 
3. In line with the principle of 
respecting local autonomy, it is 
clearly stipulated that, starting 
from January 1, 2015, the reviewing of applications for, issuing of, and auditing of confirmation documents will be 
handled by the municipal, county 
or city government with which the manufacturer in question has its business registration.  
4. The current version of the 
Announcement requires that the 
text of the labels must make it clear to consumers that they are purchasing a product that conforms to regulatory requirements. Taking into 
consideration the fact that the 
Restrictions  have now been in 
effect for over seven years, the stage in which the public needs to 
be educated can be deemed to 
have already ended. The results of 
Customs surveys and market surveys undertaken by the competent authorities show that over 99% of designated batteries 
sold in Taiwan have had 
confirmation documents applied for as required by law; furthermore, the labelling with the confirmation number can be considered to constitute sufficient 
evidence that the product 
conforms to legal requirements. For this reason, the labelling requirement is being simplified, so that the label need only give 
the confirmation document 
number. 
5. With regard to those 
manufacturers that had obtained a dry cell battery mercury content  
7 
 confirmation document on or 
prior to December 31, 2015, once 
this revised Announcement comes 
into effect the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), Executive Yuan will implement confirmation document replacement operations; the 
period of validity of all 
documents requiring replacement will be changed to December 31, 2015.  
IV. Importers are required to comply 
with the following provisions:  
A. An importer must apply to 
the competent authority at 
the municipal, county or city 
government level for a 
document confirming 
designated battery mercury 
and cadmium content before 
importation may take place.  
B. If the importer of a 
designated battery attached 
to another product uses a 
designated battery for which 
a confirmation document 
number has already been 
obtained, and obtains the 
consent of the manufacturer 
or importer to which the 
confirmation document in 
question was originally 
issued, then the 
manufacturer does not need 
to make a new application 
for a confirmation 
document.  
C. A designated battery or 
product to which a 
designated battery is 
attached shall have the 
confirmation document 
number clearly labelled on 
its packaging. The width and 
height of the characters on 
the label may not be less 
than 0.3 centimeters.  II. The manufacture or import of 
designated batteries may begin 
only after the manufacturer or 
importer has submitted an 
application to the central 
competent authority that includes 
a testing report that indicates said 
batteries have a mercury 
concentration lower than 5 ppm, 
and the said authority has issued 
confirmation documents.  
III. If the manufacturer or importer of 
a designated battery attached to 
another product uses a 
designated battery for which the 
central competent authority has 
issued a confirmation document, 
and obtains the consent of the 
original designated battery 
confirmation document 
applicant, the manufacturer or 
importer does not need to 
re-apply for a confirmation 
document.  
IV. Manufacturers and importers 
shall attach labeling to 
designated battery packaging 
that clearly states the phrase 
“This battery complies with 
Environmental Protection 
Administration regulations on 
mercury content” and the 
confirmation document number 
issued by the central competent 
authority.The width or height of 
the characters may not be less 
than 0.3 centimeters.  1. This item has been modified. 
2. The provisions of Items II to IV in 
the current version of the 
Announcement relating to 
importers have been combined in this item. 
3. With regard to those importers 
that had obtained a dry cell 
battery mercury content 
confirmation document on or prior to December 31, 2015, once this revised Announcement comes into effect the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), 
Executive Yuan will implement 
confirmation document replacement operations; the period of validity of all documents requiring replacement 
will be changed to December 31, 
2015. 
 
V. Vendors are required to comply 
with the following provisions:  
A. Vendors may not sell or give away designated batteries that have not been 
confirmed by the competent 
authorit
y and/or do not bear V. A vendor may not sell or give 
away designated batteries that have not been confirmed by thecentral
 competent authority 
confirmation and do not bear the 
markings specified in Item 4 of 
this announcement. 1. In accordance with Item II of 
these Restrictions regarding the 
maximum permitted heavy metal content levels for designated batteries, and the timetable for the 
adoption of these restrictions, it is 
clearly stipulated that those button  
8 
 the specified markings. 
B. Those designated batteries 
or products to which 
designated batteries are 
attached which were already 
on sale prior to the 
expiration of the 
confirmation document may 
continue to be sold after the 
expiration of the 
confirmation document.  
C. Button cell type batteries 
and products to which 
button cell type batteries are 
attached that were already 
on sale prior to December 
31, 2016 may continue to be 
sold after that date.   cell type alkaline manganese 
batteries, mercuric oxide batteries 
and silver oxide batteries that 
were already on sale prior to the date of implementation of the revised  Restrictions  may continue 
to be sold or given away. 
2. The phrase “do not bear the 
specified markings” refers to 
those batteries that do not bear a confirmation document number as required by Items III and IV of this Announcement, or where the 
confirmation document number 
does not match the designated 
batteries in question, or where the 
width or height of the characters used in the label is less than 0.3 
centimeters, or where the label 
cannot be read easily, etc. 
3. This revision incorporates the 
content of EPA order Huan Shu Fei Tzu #0970054769 dated July 24, 2008: “Taking into account 
the fact that those designated 
batteries and products to which 
designated batteries are attached which have already obtained a confirmation document in 
accordance with the requirements 
of the Announcement and which conform to requirements at the time of commencing sale will already be in conformity with the 
requirements of this 
Announcement, such products may therefore continue to be sold after the expiration of the confirmation document. However, if sampling of designated batteries 
by the competent authorities 
shows that the mercury content o f 
such batteries does not comply with the requirements given in the attached Table 1 regarding 
maximum permitted heavy metal 
content and timetable for adoption, then this shall be handled in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Announcement. 
VI. When applying for a mercury 
content and cadmium content 
confirmation document for 
designated batteries, the 
materials s pecified in the VI. The manufacturer or importer 
shall attach the following 
materials when applying to the 
central competent authority for a 
confirmation document for a 1. It is clearly stipulated that the 
materials that a manufacturer or 
importer must submit when applying for a confirmation document are as listed in the  
9 
 attached Table 2 must be 
submitted.  designated battery in accordance 
with Item 2 of this Official 
Announcement:  
A. Application form. B. A photocopy of company 
registration or commercial registration or other verification document 
showing government 
approval of establishment. 
C. A photocopy of the personal 
identification document of the statutory responsible 
person. 
D. Photo showing the 
appearance of the designated battery. 
E. Testing report for mercury 
content issued within three 
months before the date the documents are submitted. 
F. Other documents or 
information designated by 
the central competent 
authority. 
 attached Table 2 of the revised 
announcement. 
2. An additional provision has been 
included specifying that, when applying for a confirmation document, the applicant must submit a self-regulation pledge; if the applicant has any illegal gains, 
the letter of pledge can be used in 
relation to the recovery of such gains.  
3. In accordance with the coming 
into effect of the revised Personal 
Data Protection Act and the 
adoption of new online application methods by the EPA whereby the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) 
Commerce Industrial Services 
Portal can be used to examine data made public by manufacturers or importers, the requirement that applicants must submit a photocopy of the 
responsible person’s identity 
document and of the applicant’s company registration, business registration or other registration certificate issued by a government 
agency, has been abolished. 
4. On the basis of the collated 
examples of special cases reviewed by the central government competent 
authorities, a clear stipulation has 
been made that, in the case of 
batteries that do not bear the name of the country of manufacture or of the manufacturer, the applicant must submit suitable supporting 
documentary evidence to facilitate 
review of their application. For example, in the case of batteries that do not bear the name of the country of manufacture, the 
applicant must submit evidence 
that it is the manufacturer of the 
batteries in question, along with a 
letter of pledge  verifying the place of manufacture, and the 
manufacturer registration or other 
registration document issued by the government authorities in the place of manufacture. 
 VII. The testing report mentioned in 
Item 6 of this Official 1. This Item has been deleted.  
2. The content of Item VII in the  
10 
 Announcement shall comply 
with the following regulations: 
A. The manufacturer shall 
provide all testing reports submitted by the analysis laboratory that have received permits to test mercury content from the 
central competent 
authority. 
B. The importer shall provide 
all testing reports submitted by analysis 
laboratories mentioned in 
the previous item or laboratories that are authorized to test for mercury concentration in 
dry batteries by the 
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). 
C. The manufacturer or 
importer shall submit 
separate testing reports when the manufactured or imported designated batteries are of different 
brands, models, 
specifications, or outward 
appearances, or when designated batteries made 
by the same manufacturer 
have been manufactured in 
different countries. 
D. The manufacturer and 
importer shall submit sample batteries that are representative of the type 
and model to be sold on the 
domestic market. 
 current version of the 
Announcement has been 
merged into appended Table 2 
of the revised Announcement. 
VII. The designated battery mercury 
and cadmium content 
confirmation document issued 
by the municipal, county or city 
government authorities must 
contain the items specified in 
the appended Table 3.  
 The validity period of a 
confirmation document issued 
by the competent authorities 
must not exceed five years. 
Those firms that wish to continue to manufacture or import designated batteries must VIII. A confirmation document shall 
state the following items: 
A. Confirmation number.
 
B. Name, address, and 
statutory responsible 
person of the company or 
profit seeking enterprise.  
C. Country of manufacture.  
D. Battery model, 
specifications, photograph 
of outward appearance, and 
mercury content.  
E. Issuance date and period of 
validity.  1. This Item has been modified. 
2. The provisions of Items VIII and 
IX in the current version of the Announcement relating to 
importers have been combined in 
this item. 
3. Certain of the provisions of Item 
VIII in the current Announcement have been moved to the appended Table 3 of the revised 
Announcement. 
4. During the initial period of 
implementation of this Announcement the central  
11 
 submit a new application at least 
three months prior to the 
expiration of the original 
confirmation document. 
 In the case of an applicant that, 
prior to December 31, 2015, had 
only applied for a designated 
battery mercury content 
confirmation document, the 
period of validity of the 
previously issued confirmation 
document shall be deemed not 
to extend beyond December 31, 
2015.  
 F. Other items designated by 
the central competent 
authority.  
 IX. The central competent authority 
may, depending on the mercury 
content of the designated battery 
and random testing 
circumstances, approve the 
validity period of the 
confirmation documents. The 
validity period is limited to five 
years.Those manufacturers and 
importers that wish to continue 
to use their confirmation 
documents after expiration shall 
reapply six months prior to 
expiration. Those that are 
applying for the first time are 
limited to a validity period of 
two years.  
 government competent authority 
will continue to implement 
confirmation document 
application review and the issuing of confirmation documents, until such time as the system is working smoothly, when all responsibility for the issuing of 
confirmation documents will be 
transferred to the competent authorities at the municipal, county and city government levels. The items must be listed in 
such confirmation documents, and 
the former to be used, are listed in the appended Table 3. 
5. Revisions have been made 
pursuant to the revisions of Items 
III and IV of the Announcement.
6. In line with the staged 
implementation of this Announcement, it is clearly stipulated that, in the case of those applicants who have only applied 
for a mercury content 
confirmation document as of the time when this Announcement comes into effect, the period of validity of such confirmation 
document shall extend only until 
December 31, 2015. 
7. The content of Item IX of the 
current Announcement has been merged into Item VIII, and the 
restrictions limiting the maximum 
period of validity of a first application for a confirmation document to two years has been abolished. In addition, taking into account the fact that review of 
confirmation document 
applications only requires a period of approximately one month, the requirements regarding the timing of the submission of new 
applications have been revised so 
as to facilitate management by the competent authorities. 
VIII. When changes are made to 
recorded items in designated 
battery mercury and cadmium 
content confirmation 
documents,  such changes must 
be made pursuant to the 
following regulations. 
A. In the case of change of X. When making changes to 
recorded items in confirmation 
documents, the changes shall be 
made pursuant to the following 
regulations: 
A. When basic information 
such as the name, address, 
or statutory responsible 1. This Item has been modified. 2. The text has been revised in light 
of the revisions made to Items II, III, IV and VIII of this 
Announcement, as well as to the 
appended Tables. 
3. When the company or 
profit-seeking enterprise address  
12 
 basic information of a 
company or profit-seeking 
enterprise changes, 
application registration must 
be performed with the 
competent authority in the 
municipal, county or city 
government with jurisdiction 
over the area where the 
company or profit-seeking 
enterprise is located within 
15 days. 
B. In the case of change of 
other confirmation 
document content changes, a 
new confirmation document 
application must be made 
prior to the change.  person of company or 
profit seeking enterprise 
changes , the manufacturer 
or importer shall perform change procedures with the central
competent authority 
within 15 days after the 
company license or profit 
seeking enterprise 
certificate changes.  
B. When other confirmation 
document content changes , 
the manufacturer or 
importer shall submit a 
new application in accordance with Item 6 
of 
this announcement prior to 
the change . 
 of a manufacturer or importer 
changes, resulting in a change in 
the competent authority of the 
municipal county or city government of the area in which the manufacturer or importer is located, the manufacturer or importer must apply to the 
competent authority of the 
municipal, county or city government with jurisdiction over the area in which the manufacturer or importer was 
originally located, to complete the 
specified provisions for transferring to the new competent authority.  
IX. The competent authority may 
send personnel in possession of 
personal identification documents to enter operation
 premises in 
order to inspect the circumstances of designated battery operations,
 
and may request the provision of 
confirmation documents or other 
relevant information. Designated 
batteries shall be provided for 
inspection without compensation , 
up to a quantity sufficient to meet 
inspection  needs. The operator 
must not refuse, seek to evade or 
obstruct this activity.  XI. The competent authority may 
still conduct random testing of 
any designated battery on the 
domestic market that has 
obtained a confirmation 
document.  
XII. The competent authority may 
send personnel in possession of personal identification documents to enter the premises of manufacture or import and 
sales in order to inspect the 
circumstances of the 
manufacture or import and sale of designated batteries, and request the provision of relevant information. The manufacturer 
or importer shall provide 
designated batteries for testing without compensation, up to a quantity sufficient to meet testing needs, and may not refuse to do so. 1. This Item has been modified. 
2. The provisions of Items XI and 
XII in the current version of the Announcement relating to importers have been combined in this item. 
3. The text has been revised in light 
of the revisions made to Item I of this Announcement. 
X The municipal, county or city 
government competent 
authorities possess  the authority 
to revoke a confirmation document when a manufacturer or importer is found to be in any 
of the following circumstances: 
A. In those circumstances in 
which designated batteries in the domestic market have a heavy metal content that 
exceeds the limits noted in 
appended Table 1 , as 
determined throu gh random XIII. The central competent authority 
possesses the authority to 
revoke a confirmation document when a manufacturer or importer is found to be in any of the following circumstances: 
A. In those circumstances in 
which designated batteries in the domestic market have 
a mercury content of 5 ppm 
or higher, as determined 
through random testing by 
the central competent 
authority. 1. This Item has been modified. 
2. The provisions of Items XIII and 
XIV in the current version of the Announcement relating to importers have been combined in this item. 
3. The text has been revised in light 
of the revisions made to Items IIIand IV of this Announcement. 
4. In accordance with the principle 
of trust, those designated batteries that are already being lawfully 
manufactured or imported prior to 
the date of implementation may  
13 
 testing by the competent 
authority. 
B. The application documents 
are false and untruthful. 
C. Other matters designated by 
the competent authority. 
If the municipal, county or city 
government competent authority  
has revoked a confirmation 
document, the manufacturer or importer must
 submit a new 
application for a confirmation document for the same type or 
model of designated battery once 
six months have elapsed after completion of improvement. B. The application documents 
are false 2. and untruthful. 
C. Other matters designated by the 
central
 competent authority. 
XIV. If the central competent 
authority has revoked a confirmation document, the manufacturer or importer may 
submit a new application for a 
confirmation document for the same type or model of designated battery six months after completion of 
improvement. continue to be sold after the date 
of implementation; however, after 
the date of implementation, such 
batteries must conform to the 
requirements listed in appended Table 1. The determination of the applicable date for such designated batteries shall be based 
on the batch number and 
production schedule or other similar evidence, or on the date of importation given on the bill of entry. 
XI In those circumstances in which random testing by the competent authority reveals that a designated battery has a heavy metal content 
that exceeds the limits noted in 
appended Table 1, the competent 
authority of the municipal, county 
or city government with 
jurisdiction over the area where 
the manufacturer or importer in 
question is located may order the 
manufacterer or importer to recall 
the product from stores and return 
or dispose of the product.  XV. In those circumstances in which 
random testing by the central competent authority reveals that a designated battery has a 
mercury content greater than 5 
ppm, the said authority may 
order the manufacturer or importer to recall the product from stores and return or 
dispose of product pursuant to 
the Waste Disposal Act. 1. This Item has been modified. 
2. The text has been revised in light 
of the revisions made to Items IIand VI of this Announcement. 
 XVI. The labeling, investigation and 
disciplinary procedures for 
designated batteries that were 
placed on the market before this announcement took effect shall 
be conducted according to the 
following rules: 
A. Labeling shall comply with 
Article 4 of this 
announcement by September 1, 2007; the date of sale shall 
be the date on the vendor sales 
form, the purchase invoice or 
receipt. 
B. Before September 1, 2009, 
when the first competent authority investigation at a vendor location reveals that 
the designated batteries are 
not marked according to regulations, the competent authority shall order the vendor to suspend the sale and delivery of goods on that day. 
The vendor may resume the 
sale and delivery of goods 1. This Item has been deleted.
 
2. This Item was a transitional 
measure; since the period of applicability has now ended, the Item has been deleted.  
14 
 only upon the completion of 
the regulation markings. 
Those that do not abide shall 
be disciplined pursuant to 
Article 51 of the Waste Disposal Act. Second time violations and any violations thereafter shall be directly 
disciplined pursuant to Article 
51 of the Waste Disposal Act.
C. The manufacturer or importer 
shall complete the aforesaid designated battery markings 
within ten days of receiving 
the improvement notification from the competent authority. Those that do not make the necessary improvements 
before the deadline shall be 
disciplined pursuant to Article 51 of the Waste Disposal Act.
D. Starting on September 2, 
2009, manufacturers, importers and vendors that are 
found by competent authority 
investigation to have designated batteries with non-regulation markings, shall 
be directly disciplined 
pursuant to Article 51 of the 
Waste Disposal Act. 
 
 
 XVII. This Announcement shall take 
effect on September 1, 2006. However, Item 4 of this announcement will take effect on December 1, 2006; and 
Item 16, Paragraphs 2, 3, and 
4 will take effect on January 1, 2007. 1. This Item has been deleted.
 
2. Since the date of implementation 
of the Announcement is now given in the Subject section, this Item has been deleted. 
 
  
15 
  
Revised Announcement Current 
Announcement Explanation 
Appended Table 1 The Maximum Permitted Heavy Metal Content 
Levels for Designated Batteries, and the Timetable for the Adoption of these Restrictions  1. This Table has been 
newly added to the 
Announcement.  
Designated Battery 
Item Maximum Permitted  
Heavy Metal Content Timetable for Adoption 
Mercury content Ù5ppm Until December 31, 2015 
Non-button cell type  
batteries Mercury content Ù1ppme
Cadmium content Ù
20ppm Starting from January 1, 
2016 
Button cell type batteries Mercury content Ù5ppme
Cadmium content Ù
20ppm Starting from January 1, 
2017 
Notes:  1. Non-button cell type batteries include the following items: 
 (1) Manganese-zinc batteries, the external volume of which 
does not exceed 300 ml, with the C.C. Code 8506.10.21.006. 
 (2) Manganese-zinc batteries, the external volume of which 
exceeds 300 ml, with the C. C. Code 8506.10.22.005. 
 (3) Non-button type alkaline manganese batteries, with the 
C.C. Code 8506.10.90.100. 
       2. Button cell type batteries include the following items: 
(1) Button cell type alkaline manganese batteries, with the C.C. Code 8506.10.90.903. (2) Mercuric oxide batteries, with the C.C. Code 8506.30.00.007. (3) Silver oxide batteries, with the C.C. Code 8506.40.00.005.  2. In order to 
effectively reduce 
the negative impact 
that heavy metals contained in 
batteries have on the 
environment, this Announcement 
stipulates maximum 
permitted heavy 
metal content levels 
for designated 
batteries; taking into 
account the need to 
give companies time 
to adjust to the new regulations, these 
restrictions are 
being imposed
gradually. 
3. In order to reduce 
disparities in regard 
to the determination 
as to which types of 
battery the 
restrictions apply to, 
the C.C. Codes for designated batteries 
are specified.       
  
16 
  
Revised Announcement Current 
Announcement Explanation 
Appended Table 2 Materials to be Submitted When Applying for a 
Designated Battery Mercury or Cadmium Content Confirmation Document  1. This Table has been 
newly added to the 
Announcement.  
Applicable 
Grou p Materials to be Submitted 
Manufacturers  Application form 
 Photocopy of factory registration certificate 
 Photograph of the exterior of the designated battery 
 Designated battery mercury and/or  cadmium content test report 
issued within the past three months by an inspection and testing 
organization authorized by the central government competent 
authority to perform designate d battery mercury and cadmium 
content testing. In the case where a manufacturer produces a 
number of designated batteries w ith different brands, models, 
specifications or external appearance, a separate test report must be 
submitted for each different type.* 
 In the case where the battery is not marked with the name of the 
country of manfuacture and with the battery type in either English 
or Chinese, the application must be accompanied by a certificate 
issued by the manufacturer confirmi ng that it is the manufacturer of 
the battery in question, and by a certificate confirming the country 
of manufacture. 
 In the case with the battery is not marked with the name of the 
brand, a sample of the packaging in which the battery is sold, or an 
external design drawing, must be submitted. 
 A self-regulation letter of pledge (see attachment) 
 Such other documents or materials as may be specified by the 
competent authorities.  
Importers  Application form 
 Photograph of the exterior of the designated battery 
 Designated battery mercury and/or  cadmium content test report 
issued within the past three months by an inspection and testing 
organization authorized by the central government competent 
authority to perform designate d battery mercury and cadmium 
content testing or by an International Laboratory Accreditation 
Cooperation (ILAC) accredited facility. In the case where a 
manufacturer produces a number of designated batteries with 
different brands, models, specificat ions or external appearance, or 
where a single manufacturer undertakes battery manufacturing in 
more than one country, a separate test report must be submitted for 
each different type and each different country.* 
 In the case where the battery is not marked with the name of the 
country of manufacture and with the battery type in either English 
or Chinese, the application must be accompanied by a certificate 
issued by the manufacturer confirmi ng that it is the manufacturer of 
the battery in question, and by a certificate confirming the country 
of manufacture. 
 In cases where the battery is not marked with the name of the brand, 
a sample of the packaging in which the battery is sold, or an 
external design drawing, must be submitted. 
 A self-regulation letter of pledge (see attachment) 
 Such other documents or materials as may be specified by the 
competent authorities.  
Note: The manufacturer or importer must submit a sample of the same designated 
battery type and model as will be sold in Taiwan.  2. The content of Items 
VI and VII of the 
current Announcement has 
been merged into 
this Table. 
3. The requirement that 
applicants must 
submit a photocopy of the responsible 
person’s identity 
document and of the applicant’s company 
registration, business 
registration or other registration 
certificate issued by 
a government agency, has been 
abolished. A 
requirement has been 
added that, where a 
battery is not marked 
with the name of the 
country of 
manufacture or the name of the brand, 
relevant 
documentary evidence must be 
submitted to 
facilitate application review. 
4. A new requirement 
has been added that applicants must 
submit a 
self-regulation letter of pledge.  
17 
 
   
  
18 
  
Revised Announcement Current 
Announcement Explanation 
Appended Table 3 Items to be Included in a Designated Battery Mercury 
or Cadmium Content Confirmation Document  1. This Table has been 
newly added to the 
Announcement.  
 
                                 2. The content of Item 
VIII of the current 
Announcement has 
been merged into 
this Announcement.
3. With the issuing of 
designated battery 
confirmation 
documents to be handled by 
municipal, county 
and city governments in the 
future, this provision 
stipulates the items that must be 
included in such 
documents, and the format to be used.