Public Consultation on Proposed Control of 6 mercury-added products as Hazardous Substances

Aim

The National Environment Agency (NEA) is seeking feedback on the proposed control of 6 mercury-added products as hazardous substances (HS) under the Second Schedule of the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA).¹ This consultation will last 4 weeks from 19 Aug 2024 to 19 Sep 2024.

Background

2 Singapore is a party to the Minamata Convention (MC), which aims to protect human health and the environment from man-made emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. NEA, as the competent authority for MC, controls mercury-added products listed under the Convention to ensure that international obligations are complied with.

Proposed Control on 6 Mercury-Added Products

3 Parties to the MC adopted the recommendation during the 5th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP-5) to include 6 mercury-added products under Annex A of the MC. These mercury-added products can release mercury, which is toxic and can bioaccumulate. As such, NEA intends to control these 6 mercury-added products as HS and to phase them out by 1 Jan 2027 or 1 Jan 2028, in accordance with the decision at COP-5.

4 The manufacture, import and export of the following 4 mercury-added products will not be allowed from 1 Jan 2027:

a. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes that are > 30 watts

b. Compact fluorescent lamps with a non-integrated ballast (CFL.ni) for general lighting purposes that are ≤ 30 watts with a mercury content not exceeding 5 mg per lamp burner

c. Linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs) for general lighting purposes:

i. Halophosphate phosphor ≤ 40 watts with a mercury content not exceeding 10 mg per lamp

ii. Halophosphate phosphor > 40 watts

d. Halophosphate phosphor non-linear fluorescent lamps (NFLs) (e.g., U-bend and circular) for general lighting purposes

5 The manufacture, import and export of the following 2 mercury-added products will not be allowed from 1 Jan 2028:

a. Triband phosphor non-linear fluorescent lamps (NFLs) (e.g., U-bend and circular) for general lighting purposes

b. Linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs) for general lighting purposes:

i. Triband phosphor < 60 watts with a mercury content not exceeding 5 mg per lamp

ii. Triband phosphor ≥ 60 watts with a mercury content not exceeding 5 mg per lamp

iii. Triband phosphor ≥ 60 watts with a mercury content exceeding 5 mg per lamp

6 NEA intends to gazette this legislative amendment by 2026. This will be followed by a two-year transitional period before the amendments come into force by 1 Jan 2027/2028.

Request for Feedback

7 This proposal is released for the purpose of consultation. Comments received during the consultation exercise will be reviewed and may be considered in developing the final control measures. Parties wishing to provide feedback may do so at https://form.gov.sg/66bc068a5e954814968546b7 or send an email to tan_si_yan@nea.gov.sg by 19 Sep 2024.

share your views

8 In order to ensure that the consultation is productive and focused, respondents are requested to adhere to the following guidelines when providing their feedback:

a. Identify yourself as well as the organisation you represent (if any) so that NEA may follow up with you to clarify on any issue where necessary.

b. Be clear and concise in your comments.

c. Focus your comments on the proposal and how it can be improved.

d. Substantiate your points with illustrations, examples, data or alternative suggestions.

¹ More information on the licensing regime under EPMA can be found at https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/pollution-control/chemical-safety/hazardous-substances/management-of-hazardous-substances