Canada Publishes Amendments to the Products Containing Mercury Regulations

SafeGuardSElectrical & Electronics, Hardgoods, SoftlinesJun 30, 2024

SG 100/24

The Canada published SOR/2024-109 Regulations Amending the Products Containing Mercury Regulations, which intends to reduce the potential risks of mercury to the environment and human health through measures such as banning the manufacturing and import of mercury containing products, setting mercury content limits for specific products, providing transitional period arrangements, and strengthening labeling and information requirements.

On June 19, 2024, Canada published SOR/2024-109 Regulations Amending the Products Containing Mercury Regulations in Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 158, Number 13, to amend the SOR/2014-254 the Products Containing Mercury Regulations.

The Products Containing Mercury Regulations (SOR/2014-254, hereinafter the Regulations) prohibit the import and manufacture of all products containing mercury, with some exemptions. In some cases, the Regulations also prohibit the sale of certain lamps. The Regulations came into force in 2015 and are part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to reducing risks to the environment and human health from mercury found in products.

The publication of SOR/2024-109, which contains amendments to the Regulations, were to fulfill Canada’s international commitments under the Minamata Convention and to accelerate transitions to mercury-free products. The amendments, coming into force on June 19, 2025, support Canada’s National Strategy for Lamps Containing Mercury by including a gradual phase out of the most common types of lamps containing mercury. The new prohibitions for lamps containing mercury used for general lighting will come into force in the coming years. All these lamps can be replaced with light-emitting diode (LED) technology, which is mercury-free, has a longer life and is more energy efficient. In addition, the requirements for mercury content in batteries have also been revised.

The Regulations continue to have limited exemptions for essential products, such as:

Encapsulated dental amalgam
Analytical standards, reagents or reference material for use in laboratories
Fluorescent lamps used for growing plants, water treatment or air disinfection

Exempted products must follow labelling requirements. Importers and manufacturers must submit a report every three years, and they must keep records for five years regarding these products.

SGS is committed to providing information about development in regulations for consumer products as complimentary services. Through a global network of laboratories, SGS provides a wide range of services including physical/mechanical testing, analytical testing and consultancy work for technical and non-technical parameters applicable to a comprehensive range of consumer products. Contact us for more information or visit our website. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested.

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