Guidance

Controls on mercury added products

The rules for manufacturing mercury added products in Great Britain, as well as importing and exporting them between Great Britain and non-EU countries.

• From: Environment Agency
• Published: 1 July 2019
• Last updated: 9 October 2023 — See all updates

These controls apply to products where mercury or a mercury compound has been intentionally added.

You must not:

• manufacture mercury added products in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)
• import or export mercury added products between Great Britain and non-EU countries

There is separate guidance for moving products containing mercury between Great Britain, the EU and Northern Ireland.

Controls apply to certain:

• electrical or electronic components – for example, mercury switches, batteries and accumulators
• lighting components – for example, fluorescent or vapour mercury lamps
• cosmetic products – for example, skin lightening creams
• pesticides, biocides and topical antiseptics

There are additional controls on measuring devices containing mercury. These affect when you can place them on the market.

Check the full list of mercury added products in Part A of Annex II.

Exemptions

You can still manufacture and import or export mercury added products if they are:

• used for research, calibration of equipment, or as a reference standard
• essential for civil protection and military uses – for example, protecting the civilian population and property from emergencies that could damage human welfare, the environment or national security

In most cases, products that are essential for civil protection are used by the government or other authorities.

Exemptions for repairing older vehicles and electronic or electrical equipment

Certain products are exempt from the restrictions when they’re needed to repair an older vehicle or piece of electronic or electrical equipment.

If the product will replace a component of a larger piece of equipment and no mercury-free alternative is available, there are exemptions for:

• switches and relays
• cold cathode fluorescent lamps
• external electrode fluorescent lamps for electronic displays and measuring devices

This exemption only applies to products that will be used in a way allowed under either:

• restrictions of hazardous substances (RoHS) regulations
• end of life vehicles (ELV) regulations

Measuring devices containing mercury

There are additional restrictions on measuring devices containing mercury. Unless there’s an exemption, you must not:

• manufacture these devices in Great Britain
• import or export these devices between Great Britain and non-EU countries
• place these devices on the market – this means selling them or supplying them in any way

The restrictions apply to all types of measuring devices containing mercury. This includes:

• thermometers
• barometers
• manometers
• sphygmomanometers

Exemptions for measuring devices

There are exemptions from the controls on measuring devices containing mercury. These include exemptions for devices that are:

• essential for civil protection and military uses
• being used for research, calibration of equipment, or as a reference standard
• more than 50 years old on 3 October 2007
• being displayed in public for cultural and historical purposes

Disposing of a mercury added product

You must dispose of mercury added products as hazardous waste.

If you are disposing of a household product, find a local hazardous waste disposal service.

If you are disposing of waste produced or handled by your business, read the guide on hazardous waste.

Get help

If you have a query about the controls on mercury added products, contact the Environment Agency.

Email: chemicalrestrictions@environment-agency.gov.uk

Phone: 03708 506 506

Published 1 July 2019
Last updated 9 October 2023 + show all updates

1. 9 October 2023

   Updated page with guidance about the controls on mercury added products.

2. 1 July 2019

   First published.