Japan to implement an order to prevent environmental pollution of mercury

Japan published a notification (G/TBT/N/JPN/491) to WTO Secretariat to implement Environment Order (Act No. 42 of 2015) on 1 July 2015.
 
To ensure the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”) as well as to further promote the prevention of environmental pollution caused by mercury, the Act on Preventing Environmental Pollution of Mercury (Act No. 42 of 2015) bans the manufacture of “specified mercury-added products” designated in the Enforcement Order of the Act and also requires the government to take measures such as permitting the manufacture of “specified mercury-added products” for the uses allowed under the Convention as well as restricting the use of “specified mercury-added products” as components of other products. The Order also discloses the mercury content limits (lower than that in the Convention) and phase-out dates (earlier than that in the Convention).
 
 Products designated as “specified mercury-added products” with corresponding mercury content limits and phase-out dates

Specified mercury-added products	Phase-out date
Batteries (excluding the following) Ÿ Button zinc silver oxide batteries (Button cells with a mercury content less than 1% by weight) Ÿ Button zinc air batteries (Button cells with a mercury content less than 2% by weight)	End of 2017 (End of 2020 for button alkali batteries)
Switches and relays	End of 2020
Signal-ended compact fluorescent lamps and self-ballasted fluorescent lamps for general lighting purposes that are less than or equal to 30 watts of rated power consumption with a mercury content exceeding 5 mg per lamp burner	End of 2017
The followings, among linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs) for general lighting purposes: a) Products that are less than 60 watts of rated power consumption with a mercury content exceeding 5 mg per lamp, using triband phosphor b) Products that are equal to or less than 40 watts of rated power consumption with a mercury content exceeding 10 mg per lamp, using halophosphate phosphor	End of 2017
High pressure mercury vapour lamps (HPMV) for general lighting purposes	End of 2020
The following cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode fluorescent lamps (CCFL and EEFL) for electronic displays: a)Products whose length is equal to or shorter than 500 mm with a mercury content exceeding 3.5 mg per lamp b)Products whose length is longer than 500 mm and equal to or shorter than 1500 mm with a mercury content exceeding 5 mg per lamp c)Products whose length is longer than 1500 mm with a mercury content exceeding 13 mg per lamp	End of 2017
Cosmetics	End of 2017
Pesticides, biocides and topical antiseptics	End of 2017(End of 2020 for topical antiseptics )
The following non-electronic measuring devices except non-electronic measuring devices used for high precision measurement, where no suitable mercury-free alternative is available: (a) barometers (b) hygrometers (c) manometers (d) thermometers (e) sphygmomanometers	End of 2020

The proposed approval date for regulation notification is about September of 2015 and it may take effect in June 2018 or December 2020 (depending on products).