Taiwan MOENV Publishes Draft Amendment to “Restrictions on the Import of Mercury Containing Products” 
On February 12, 2026, Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment (MOENV) released a draft amendment to the Restrictions on the Import of Mercury‑Containing Products. The public comment period will remain open until 60 days after the announcement date. To align with regulatory developments under the Minamata Convention, the draft amendment adds new mercury‑containing products to the import ban and revises provisions related to exemptions. According to the draft, the amended regulation is expected to take effect on May 1, 2026.
Mercury‑Containing Products Prohibited from Import
The list of mercury‑containing products prohibited from import has been revised as shown below (newly added items in bold):
| No. | Product Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Switches and relays |
| 2 | High‑pressure mercury lamps for general lighting |
| 3 | Fluorescent lamps with integrated ballasts for general lighting of 30W or less |
| 4 | Cold‑cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) and external‑electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFLs) for electronic displays |
| 5 | Strain gauges used in instruments for sphygmography |
| 6 | Vacuum pumps |
| 7 | Weights attached to vehicle wheels to maintain wheel balance |
| 8 | Photographic film and printing paper |
| 9 | Propellants used in satellites, spacecraft, and space vehicles |
| 10 | Electrical and electronic measuring instruments such as melt pressure transducers, transmitters, and sensors |
| 11 | Non‑electronic measuring instruments such as barometers, hygrometers, pressure gauges, and thermometers (including medical thermometers), and blood pressure monitors |
Mercury‑Containing Products Prohibited from Import Starting January 1, 2027
- Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting
- Linear and non‑linear fluorescent lamps using halophosphate phosphors for general lighting
Mercury‑Containing Products Prohibited from Import Starting January 1, 2028
- Linear and non‑linear fluorescent lamps using tri‑phosphor coatings for general lighting
Revisions to Exemption Provisions
Import may be permitted upon submission of supporting documentation and approval by the central competent authority if any of the following conditions are met (revised sections in bold):
- When deemed essential for public protection or military purposes
- When used for research, testing, education, calibration of instruments, or as reference standards
- When the following products do not have suitable non‑mercury alternatives:
- Ultra‑high‑precision capacitance and dissipation factor measuring bridges, and high‑frequency RF switches and relays for monitoring equipment
- Cold‑cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) and external‑electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFLs) for electronic displays
- Electrical/electronic or non‑electronic measuring instruments that are installed in large equipment or used for high‑precision measurement
The full text of the draft amendment (in Traditional Chinese) is available at the following URL:
https://gazette.nat.gov.tw/egFront/detail.do?metaid=163708&log=detailLog
