Provisions to limit Mercury content in battery products

In accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Standardization, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Environmental Protection and the Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection, regulations on limiting the Mercury content of battery products have been formulated.

Article 1 These Provisions are formulated in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Standardization, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Environmental Protection and the Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection for the purpose of strengthening the prevention and control of mercury pollution from battery products and protecting and improving the ecological environment of China.

Article 2 These Provisions shall apply to the units and individuals that produce, import and sell Yuyiqie battery products.

Article 3 The relevant departments shall, in accordance with their respective functions and responsibilities, conduct inspection and supervision over the production, import, sale and introduction of equipment for batteries.

Article 4. Based on the actual situation in the battery industry in China, it is proposed that the work to limit Mercury content in battery products be implemented step by step, first to achieve low Mercury and finally to be free of Mercury. Low Mercury means that the Mercury content in the battery is less than 0.025 % of the weight of the ghost pool; Non-mercury means that the Mercury content in the battery is less than 0.0001 % of the battery weight.

2. Provisions to limit the Mercury content of battery products are included in the corresponding national battery standards.

Article 5 prohibits the domestic production of batteries of all types containing more than 0.025 per cent of battery weight as of 1 January 2001; With effect from 1 January 2001, all domestic and external battery products(including batteries that are compatible with electrical appliances) that are sold in the domestic market are required to be labeled with Mercury content on individual batteries(for example, with a reference to 'low Mercury' or 'no mercury'), Batteries not marked with Mercury content are not allowed to be marketed; As of 1 January 2002, it is prohibited to sell batteries with a Mercury content greater than 0.025 % of battery weight on the domestic market.

Article 6 prohibits domestic production of alkaline zinc manganese batteries with a Mercury content greater than 0.0001 per cent of battery weight as of 1 January 2005; As of 1 January 2006, the domestic distribution of alkaline zinc manganese batteries with a Mercury content greater than 0.0001 per cent of battery weight is prohibited.

Article 7 examination and approval shall be made in accordance with the relevant provisions for the establishment of new battery plants(including Chinese-foreign joint Ventures, joint ventures and foreign-owned enterprises) and newly introduced battery production lines within the territory of China.

Article 8 Imported batteries are related to safety, hygiene and environmental protection, and compulsory inspection shall be carried out by the commodity inspection department from 1 January 2001.

Article 9 For the collection and treatment of waste batteries, all relevant departments shall work together to actively create conditions and adopt various methods, such as sorting, collecting and selling waste, replacing old with new ones, and at the same time increasing publicity and raising the awareness of environmental protection among the whole people. In order to encourage waste battery treatment and processing units, the state should give preferential policies and financial support, and enjoy preferential policies for the comprehensive utilization of national resources.

Article 10 The relevant provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste shall apply to the prevention and control of environmental pollution caused by waste mercury-containing batteries.

Article 11 The relevant functional departments shall be responsible for supervising the implementation of these Provisions.

Article 12 The interpretation of these Provisions shall be the responsibility of the China Light Industry Association.

Article 13 These Provisions shall go into effect as of the date of promulgation.

The page contains the contents of the machine translation.