. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/TPKM/27 
8 December 2005 
 (05-5843) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   THE SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF 
TAIWAN, PENGHU, KINMEN AND MATSU  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:    
Environmental Protection Administration 
41, Chunghwa Road, Section 1, Taipei, 100, Taiwan 
Telephone: (+886 2) 2311 7722   
Fax:  (+886 2) 2311 6071 E-mail:  chchiu@sun.epa.gov.tw 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
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 ], 2.10.1 [   ], 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):   One-time-use 
manganese-zinc batteries and non-bu tton alkaline manganese batteries
(CCC-code:  85061021006, 8506109002) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Announcement of 
draft "Restrictions on the Manufacture, Import,  and Sale of Dry Cell Batteries" (Notice 
#0940079425 issued by the Environmental Protec tion Administration  (6 pages in Chinese, 
English translation available) 
6. Description of content:   In view of the hazard mercury poses to the environment and 
human health, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has determined this 
announcement concerning restrictions on the manufacture, import, and sale of dry cell 
batteries that contain mercury in excess of the standard value in accordance with Article 21 
of the Waste Disposal Act and in parallel with European Union battery directives and 
regulations. 
In light of the fact that that alkaline manganese batteries and manganese-zinc batteries are 
currently used in large quantities and are made using mature mercury-free production 
technology, the government shall first prohibit the manufacture, import, and sale of 
manganese-zinc batteries and non-button type al kaline manganese batteries that contain in 
excess of five parts per million mercury.  The manufacturers and importers would be 
required to submit documents to verify a mercury content of less than five parts per million when applying to the central competent author ity for confirmation prior to the import or  G/TBT/N/TPKM/27 
Page 2  
 
 manufacture of such batteries.  Furthermor e, vendors may not sell designated batteries 
without EPA confirmation.  The government has taken these steps to effectively control the 
smuggling and surreptitious import of inferior quality batteries. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Resource conservation and waste reduction. 
8. Relevant documents:   Resources Recycling Act. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    To be determined 
1 July 2006 
10. Final date for comments:   60 days from date of notification. 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:   
WTO/TBT Enquiry Point  
The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection  
Ministry of Economic Affairs 
4 Chinan Road, Section 1, Taipei, 100, Taiwan  Telephone: (+886 2) 3343 5115 Fax:  (+886 2) 2343 1804 E-mail:  tbtenq@bsmi.gov.tw 
 
English translation available at: http://www.bsmi.gov.tw/upload/b05/TB T/notificati/ROC/Environment.pdf