Exemptions under the Minamata Convention on Mercury

Exemptions from the phase-out dates listed in Part I of Annex A to the Minamata Convention on Mercury
Party Indicate the specific category/subcategory for which the exemption is registered and whether the exemption is for manufacture Explanation for the exemption Expiry date for the exemption
Argentina

The following 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: (a)-(e):

Manufacture of:

  1. clinical thermometers
English 2025
Bangladesh

Import for the following mercury-added products:

  1. Batteries, except for button zink silver oxide batteries with a mercury content < 2 % and button zink air batteries with a mercury content < 2 %.
  2. High pressure mercury vapour lamps (HPMV) for general lighting purposes.
  3. The following non-electronic measuring devices except non-electronic measuring devices installed in largescale equipment or those used for high-precision measurement, where no suitable mercury-free alternative is available: (a) - (e)

Manufacture, import and export for the following mercury-added products:

  1. 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.
  2. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes that are ≤ 30 watts with a mercury content exceeding 5 mg per lamp burner.
  3. Linear flourescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes: (a)-(b).
  4. Mercury in cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode flourescent lamps (CCFL and EEFL) for electronic displays: (a)-(c).
  5. Cosmetics (with mercury content above 1ppm), including skin lightening soaps and creams, and not including eye area cosmetics, where mercury is used as a preservative and no effective and safe substitute preservatives are available.
  6. Pesticides, biocides and topical antiseptics.
English 2025
Botswana

Import for all mercury-added products, as listed in Part I of Annex A of the Convention

English 2025
Canada

Linear flourescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes: (a)-(b).

Manufacture, import and export of:

  1. triband phosphor < 60 watts with a mercury content exeeding 5 mg per lamp

Mercury in cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode flourescent lamps (CCFL and EEFL) for electronic displays: (a)-(c).

Manufacture, import and export of CCFLs and EEFLs:

  1. short length (≤ 500 mm) with mercury content exceeding 3.5 mg per lamp
  2. medium lenth (> 500 mm and ≤ 1 500 mm) with mercury content exceeding 5 mg per lamp
English 2025
China English , Chinese 2025
Ghana

Manufacture, import and export for all mercury-added products, as listed in Part I of Annex A of the Convention.

English 2025
India

Manufacture, import and export for all mercury-added products, as listed in Part I of Annex A of the Convention.

English 2025
Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Import for the following mercury-added products:

  1. Batteries, except for button zink silver oxide batteries with a mercury content < 2 % and button zink air batteries with a mercury content < 2 %.

Manufacture, import and export for the following mercury-added products:

  1. 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.
  2. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes that are ≤ 30 watts with a mercury content exceeding 5 mg per lamp burner.
  3. Linear flourescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes: (a)-(b).
  4. High pressure mercury vapour lamps (HPMV) for general lighting purposes.
  5. Mercury in cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode flourescent lamps (CCFL and EEFL) for electronic displays: (a)-(c).

Manufacture and export for the following mercury-added products:

  1. The following 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: (a)-(e).
English 2025
Lesotho

Import for the following mercury-added products:

  1. Batteries, except for button zink silver oxide batteries with a mercury content < 2 % and button zink air batteries with a mercury content < 2 %.
  2. 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.
  3. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes that are ≤ 30 watts with a mercury content exceeding 5 mg per lamp burner.
  4. Linear flourescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes: (a)-(b).
  5. High pressure mercury vapour lamps (HPMV) for general lighting purposes.
  6. Mercury in cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode flourescent lamps (CCFL and EEFL) for electronic displays: (a)-(c).
  7. The following 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: (a)-(e).
English 2025
Madagascar

Import for all mercury-added products, as listed in Part I of Annex A of the Convention.

English 2025
Peru

The following 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: (a)-(e).

Manufacture, import and export of:

  1. Thermometers
  2. Sphygmomanometers
English 2025
Eswatini (Kingdom of)

Import for the following mercury-added products:

  1. Batteries, except for button zink silver oxide batteries with a mercury content < 2 % and button zink air batteries with a mercury content < 2 %.
  2. 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.
  3. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes that are ≤ 30 watts with a mercury content exceeding 5 mg per lamp burner.
  4. Linear flourescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes: (a)-(b).
  5. High pressure mercury vapour lamps (HPMV) for general lighting purposes.
  6. Mercury in cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode flourescent lamps (CCFL and EEFL) for electronic displays: (a)-(c).
  7. The following 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: (a)-(e).
English 2025
Thailand

Manufacture, Import and Export for the following mercury-added products:

  1. Switches and relays.
  2. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes that are ≤ 30 watts with a mercury content exceeding 5 mg per lamp burner.
  3. Linear flourescent lamps (CFLs) for general lighting purposes: (a)-(b).
  4. High pressure mercury vapour lamps (HPMV) for general lighting purposes.
  5. Mercury in cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode flourescent lamps (CCFL and EEFL) for electronic displays: (a)-(c).
  6. Topical antiseptics.
  7. Barometers, Hygrometers, Manometers, Thermometers and Sphygmomanometers.
English 2025
Exemptions from the phase-out dates listed in Part I of Annex B to the Minamata Convention on Mercury
Party Specific category/subcategory for which an exemption is registered Explanation for the exemption Expiry date for the exemption
Argentina

Chlor-alkali production

English 2030
Ghana

Chlor-alkali production

Acetaldehyde production in which mercury or mercury compounds are used as a catalyst

English 2030
India

Acetaldehyde production in which mercury or mercury compounds are used as a catalyst

English 2030
Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Chlor-alkali production

English 2030
Peru

Chlor-alkali production

English 2030
United States of America

Chlor-alkali production

English 2030