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Term:
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international agreement adopted by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on October 10, 2013, in Japan. It has been amended several times and is applicable to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's Mercury Control Ordinance came into effect on December 1, 2021, to fully implement the Minamata Convention on Mercury. This Ordinance regulates the import, export, storage, and use of mercury, mercury mixtures, compounds, and certain mercury-added products, as well as manufacturing processes involving mercury.
The Ordinance prohibits the import, export, and manufacture of specific mercury-added products from December 1, 2021, and will extend this prohibition to the supply of these products starting December 1, 2024.
Regulated mercury-added products include cosmetics, batteries, switches and relays, compact fluorescent lamps, biocides, as well as topical antimicrobial agents, etc. that contain mercury above the legal limit. Cosmetics with more than 1 ppm of mercury, including skin-lightening soaps and creams, are prohibited. Cosmetics used around the eyes are excepted if they meet all of the following conditions:1) Mercury is used as a preservative;
2) Lack of effective and safe preservative alternatives;
3) Mercury is at levels not exceeding 70 ppm.
Violators of the prohibition face penalties, including a fine of up to HK$50,000 and a maximum of one year in prison.
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