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Public Consultation on the Control of Certain Mercury Added Products in Singapore
NEA seeks public feedback on proposed plan to phase out certain mercury-added products by 2020.
Last updated 18 December 2024
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National Environment Agency - Environmental Protection Division
Consultation Period: 29 Dec 2016 - 20 Jan 2017
Status: Closed - Summary of Responses
Consultation Outcome
NEA’S RESPONSE TO COMMENTS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE CONTROL OF CERTAIN MERCURY-ADDED PRODUCTS IN SINGAPORE
1 The National Environment Agency (NEA) has concluded the public consultation on the control of certain mercury-added products (i.e. fluorescent lamps, high pressure mercury vapour lamps, non-electronic measuring devices, and switches and relays) in Singapore. The three-week consultation exercise was open for public comments from 29 Dec 2016 to 20 Jan 2017.
2 During the period of the REACH consultation, submissions from 11 companies and one agency were received. Generally, clarifications sought were restricted to the scope of the proposed control.
3 NEA has reviewed the submissions submitted on the proposed control measures. Our responses to the questions received are reflected in the table below.
4 The NEA appreciates the feedback and comments received on the proposed control of mercury-added products listed in the consultation. We would like to thank all stakeholders who have participated in the consultation exercise and would like to encourage all parties to actively participate in future calls for comments.
1 NEA has prohibited the import and sale of new mercury clinical thermometers for local use since 1 Jul 2009.
Detailed Description
Introduction
1. The National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore is carrying out a public consultation on the proposed plan to phase out the manufacture, import and export of certain mercury-added products (i.e., fluorescent lamps, high pressure mercury vapour lamps, non-electronic measuring devices, switches and relays) by 2020. The consultation period will last 3 weeks from 29 Dec 2016 to 20 Jan 2017.
Background
2. The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global and legally binding instrument intended to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. Singapore signed on to the Minamata Convention on 10 Oct 2013 to demonstrate our commitment to safeguard public health and the environment, and we are working towards ratifying the Convention. As a Party to the Convention, one of the obligations is to phase out the manufacture, import and export of mercury-added products by 2020. The list of mercury-added products controlled under the Convention (including exemptions) is shown in Annex 1.
3. Many manufacturers have switched to producing alternatives to mercury-added products, in line with the global movement of businesses towards incorporating environmental considerations and in response to government policies. As alternatives to mercury-added products are now readily available, and as Singapore prepares to implement the obligations of the Convention, the domestic control measures for mercury-added products are currently being reviewed.
Current Domestic Controls on Mercury-added Products
4. Since 1 Jul 2009, mercury-containing clinical thermometers have been controlled as Hazardous Substances (HS) under NEA's Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA). Such thermometers are not allowed to be imported and sold for local use. Similarly, since 1 July 2012, compact fluorescent lamps containing more than 5mg of mercury per lamp, as well as linear and circular fluorescent lamps containing more than 10mg of mercury per lamp are controlled as HS under the EPMA. Compact, linear and circular fluorescent lamps containing mercury exceeding the stipulated limits are not allowed to be imported and sold for local use.
New and Enhanced Control Measures for Mercury-added Products in Singapore
5. NEA has been progressively reviewing the domestic control of mercury-added products. In the first phase, NEA focused on the control of mercury-added batteries and button cell batteries. From 2018 onwards, NEA will tighten the allowable mercury content in batteries (including button cells) to 5 ppm (by weight) and below.
6. In the next phase of the review, NEA intends to control all the mercury-added products listed in Annex A of the Minamata Convention. NEA will also be exempting the applications that are excluded from control in the Convention. The proposed control measures for mercury-added products targeted and phase-out date are listed in Table 1.
Table 1: Proposed control measures and phase-out date for certain mercury-added products
Mercury-added products | Proposed control measure – the manufacture, import and export of the products listed below will be phased out | Proposed phase-out date |
|---|---|---|
Lamps* | 1 Jan 2020 | |
Linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs) | LFLs for general lighting purposes:
| |
High pressure mercury vapour (HPMV) lamps | HPMV lamps for general lighting purposes | |
Cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) and external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFLs)
| CCFLs and EEFLs for electronic displays:
| |
Non-electronic measuring devices | ||
| The listed non-electronic measuring devices, except non-electronic measuring devices installed in large-scale equipment or those used for high precision measurement, where no suitable mercury-free alternative is available. | |
Switches and relays | ||
- | Switches and relays, except very high accuracy capacitance and loss measurement bridges and high frequency radio frequency switches and relays in monitoring and control instruments with a maximum mercury content of 20 mg per bridge, switch or relay. | |
* Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes ≤30 watts with a mercury content exceeding 5 mg per lamp burner, halophosphate phosphor LFLs ≤40 watts with a mercury content exceeding 10 mg per lamp and mercury clinical thermometers listed under the Convention are already controlled by NEA.
Proposed Regulatory Control
7. NEA plans to gazette the control of the mercury-added products listed in Table 1 under the EPMA. Importers, manufacturers and distributors of mercury-added products will be granted a one-year grace period from the date of gazette to clear their existing stocks and meet contractual obligations.
8. With effect from 1 Jan 2020, the manufacture, import and export of non-compliant mercury-added products in Singapore will not be allowed. Stocks of products listed in Table 1 that are imported and supplied in the market before the effective date will be allowed to be sold locally until they are depleted.
Public Consultation
9. Parties wishing to provide feedback on the proposed phase-out of mercury-added products should submit their comments to stefanie_koh@nea.gov.sg and lim_kai_yun@nea.gov.sg. The consultation exercise will end on 20 Jan 2017.
10. 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 organization you represent (if any) so that NEA may follow up with you to clarify any issues, if 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.
11. This proposal is released for the purpose of consultation. All relevant comments received during the consultation exercise will be taken into consideration.