In 1956, a mass mercury poisoning incident occurred in Minamata City, Kyushu, Japan. Tens of thousands suffered symptoms such as paralysis, difficulty walking, and speech impairments. This incident sparked scientific research into the health risks of mercury, leading to the United Nations' Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2013, which came into force on August 16, 2017. The convention requires signatories to ban the production, export, or import of mercury-containing products, such as switches and relays, and mercury lamps, starting in 2020. Although Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, it is still required to align with the international trend of "gradually limiting and ultimately banning mercury." In compliance with the Minamata Convention, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) amended the "Regulations Governing the Management of Toxic Chemical Substances and Their Operation," prohibiting the use of mercury in the manufacture of switches and relays, high-pressure mercury lamps for general lighting, and non-electronic measuring instruments such as thermometers, effective January 1, 2021. The EPA also announced yesterday (the 3rd) the "Restriction on the Import of Mercury-Containing Products," prohibiting the import of these three mercury-containing products starting January 1, 2021. The Minamata Convention on Mercury regulates the manufacture, export and import of mercury-containing products. The United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury regulates the manufacture, export and import of mercury-containing products. Taken from the Chemical Bureau of the Environmental Protection Agency. The harms caused by mercury to health. Taken from the Environmental Protection Agency website. The many possible harms of mercury to human health. Taken from the Chemical Bureau of the Environmental Protection Agency. From 2021, the import of mercury measuring instruments, high-pressure mercury lamps, and mercury-containing switches will be banned. The maximum fine is 6,000 yuan. Mercury (Hg, pronounced the same as "gong"), commonly known as quicksilver, is a liquid metal at room temperature. Due to its stable physical properties, it has often been used to make products such as thermometers and barometers. Because mercury has good electrical conductivity, it can be used as batteries, switches and relays, mercury lamps and other products. In 1956, the Shin Nippon Nitrous Oxide Fertilizer plant in Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, discharged untreated mercury-containing wastewater into the sea. Ingested by marine life, it killed large numbers of fish and shellfish. Tens of thousands of residents, after consuming seafood laced with methylmercury, developed neurological symptoms such as slurred speech, unsteady gait, and hearing loss, a condition known as Minamata disease, or mercury poisoning. Minamata disease not only poisoned tens of thousands but also changed the course of humankind's response to environmental hazards. To reduce mercury pollution and call global attention to its negative impacts on humans and the environment, the United Nations declared the Minamata Convention on Mercury effective on August 16, 2017. Signatories are required to implement comprehensive lifecycle controls on mercury production, supply, use, emissions, and waste sites, and to completely ban the production, import, and export of mercury-containing products by 2020. The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) states that mercury enters the human body primarily through inhalation or ingestion. Once inside, it is difficult to excrete and can easily cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Long-term accumulation can damage the brain, nervous system, and organs such as the liver, kidneys, and lungs. "Mercury is also difficult to decompose and bioconcentrate. If not properly recovered and disposed of, it can spread into the environment, causing environmental pollution and harming human health." Although Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, the EPA has convened the Council of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, among other relevant agencies, to align with international standards and protect the health of its citizens. The Bureau of Chemical Industry also announced amendments to the "Management of Toxic Chemical Substances: Mercury." With some exceptions, mercury content in nine categories of products, including mercury lamps, mercury batteries, thermometers, and sphygmomanometers, will be strictly restricted, effective January 1, 2021. This will regulate the manufacture and export of mercury products in Taiwan. The international trend is toward gradual mercury restrictions and eventual bans. Lai Yingying, Director of the Waste Management Division of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), stated that the draft "Restriction on the Import of Mercury-Containing Products" was primarily intended to address remaining deficiencies in existing regulations, enabling Taiwan to fully implement the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury. The goal is to strengthen domestic mercury management and safeguard environmental safety and the health of the people. Wang Yaosheng, Section Chief of the Waste Management Division, explained that prior to this, the EPA had already announced the implementation of the "Restriction on the Import and Sale of Mercury Thermometers" in 2008, leading to the gradual phase-out of mercury thermometers and their replacement by alternatives. Furthermore, in 2016, the "Restriction on the Manufacture, Import, and Sale of Dry-cell Batteries" was amended to tighten mercury content in dry-cell batteries and include button batteries in the regulations. "After the new law comes into effect, thermometers will include clinical thermometers. Therefore, the content of the 'Restriction on the Import and Sale of Mercury Thermometers' is redundant and will be considered for repeal." The draft 'Restriction on the Import of Mercury-Containing Products' is based on Article 21 of the 'Abolition and Removal Law' and refers to the 'Minamata Convention on Mercury' to prohibit the import of mercury-containing products such as mercury-containing switches and relays, high-pressure mercury lamps for general lighting purposes, and non-electronic measuring instruments (barometers, hygrometers, pressure gauges, thermometers and sphygmomanometers, etc.). Exceptions include those where they are necessary for the protection of the public and military purposes; research, instrument calibration or use as reference standards; and where suitable mercury-free alternatives are unavailable. Source: Environmental Information Center
