Commencement dates for regulation of more mercury-added products under Mercury Control Ordinance appointed
******************************************************************************************
A spokesperson for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said, "The Convention aims to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects caused by the anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. The COP to the Convention (of which the People's Republic of China (PRC) is a party) may amend the list of mercury compounds, MAPs and regulated manufacturing processes using mercury or mercury compounds under the Convention when necessary. We are now putting in place local arrangements to implement the COP-5 amendments, which will further reduce public exposure to MAPs and protect public health and the environment, and fulfil the PRC (including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR))'s obligations under the Convention at the same time."
The Government tabled the Mercury Control Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Notice 2025 before the Legislative Council in June 2025 to include in the Schedule 3 to the Mercury Control Ordinance (Cap 640) to regulate 16 MAPs adopted at the COP-4 and COP-5 to the Convention. The regulation of the first eight MAPs under COP-4 amendments had entered into force in the PRC and the regulation of them in Hong Kong commenced on December 31, 2025. As for the remaining eight MAPs, the HKSAR Government will publish a notice in the Gazette to appoint the commencement dates for the regulation after the PRC has completed the legislative process to accept the COP-5 amendments. The PRC has recently completed the legislative process. The Secretary-General of the United Nations communicated on March 25, 2026, that the PRC has deposited a notice to accept the COP-5 amendments.
The spokesperson continued, "The PRC had approved the acceptance of the COP-5 amendments. The Commencement Notice specifies the respective commencement dates for the regulation of the eight more types of MAPs (such as some lighting products and cosmetics) to give effect to the COP-5 amendments (see Annex). The manufacture, import, export and supply of the products concerned will be prohibited on and after the specified dates. Any person who contravenes the above provisions commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for one year."
Regarding enforcement, the Government has provided a grace period (until January 31, 2029) for the supply of the above 16 regulated MAPs to help the trades adapt. After the grace period, if a person continues to supply the relevant regulated MAPs, the authorities will initiate prosecution upon gathering sufficient evidence. The Government has informed relevant trades of the arrangements regarding the regulated MAPs in December 2025 and February 2026.
Ends/Thursday, March 26, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:15
Issued at HKT 18:15
NNNN