Reference source : Ministry of Environment (MOENV) Taiwan
On June 23, 2026, Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment (MOENV) announced significant amendments to the “Restriction on the Import of Mercury-Containing Products,” expanding the list of prohibited items and tightening control over mercury-containing electronic measurement devices. The updated regulation aligns Taiwan’s policy with the Minamata Convention on Mercury and introduces a phased implementation plan starting on July 1, 2026. These measures aim to reduce mercury pollution at the source and strengthen public health and environmental protection.
Regulatory Update Overview
The MOENV, together with its Resource Circulation Administration and Chemicals Management Agency, has revised the import restriction framework originally established in 2020 under Article 21 of the Waste Disposal Act. The amendments expand the scope of banned mercury-containing products and introduce phased restrictions through 2026 to 2027.
Key Expansion: Newly Banned Mercury-Containing Products (Effective July 1, 2026)
The revised regulation adds multiple product categories to the import ban, including industrial, electronic, and aerospace-related applications.
Newly prohibited items include:
Mercury vacuum pumps
Tire balancing devices and wheel weights containing mercury
Space propulsion systems using mercury compounds
Photographic film and photographic paper containing mercury
Strain gauges used in plethysmographs
Electrical and electronic measuring instruments such as:
Melt pressure transducers
Transmitters
Sensors
Mercury-containing electronic display lighting components such as:
Cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs)
External electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFLs)
Low-wattage fluorescent lamps (30W and below) with integrated ballasts
Phased Ban on Mercury Lighting Products
To allow for an industry transition period, the government has introduced a phased prohibition timeline.
From January 1, 2027:
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) used for general lighting
Straight and non-straight fluorescent lamps using halophosphate phosphors
From January 1, 2028:
Fluorescent lamps using tri-phosphor technology (straight and non-straight types)
Limited Exemptions Under Strict Review
Certain mercury-containing products may still be allowed under exceptional circumstances, subject to approval by the central competent authority.
Exemption conditions include:
National defense or essential security use
Scientific research, testing, education, calibration, or reference standards
Where no viable mercury-free alternative is available for high-precision applications
Examples include:
High-precision measurement bridges and RF switching systems
Specialized electronic display components
Measurement devices installed in large-scale industrial equipment
Environmental and Health Rationale
Mercury is a toxic substance that persists in the environment, does not degrade and can bioaccumulate through the food chain.
Key risks highlighted by the Ministry:
Long-term neurological damage
Impacts on the brain and nervous system
Potential organ toxicity in humans
Ecosystem contamination through bioaccumulation
The revised policy is designed to reduce mercury leakage at the import stage, thereby supporting long-term environmental safety.
Policy Background and International Alignment
The amendment strengthens Taiwan’s compliance with the Minamata Convention on Mercury (United Nations Environment Programme treaty on mercury control). It also reinforces Taiwan’s domestic implementation strategy for hazardous substance reduction and sustainable chemical management.
Implementation Timeline
June 22, 2026: Official announcement of revised regulation
July 1, 2026: First wave of expanded import bans takes effect
January 1, 2027–2028: Additional phased restrictions on fluorescent lighting products
Key Takeaways
Taiwan is significantly expanding its mercury import restrictions.
Electronic measurement instruments are now included in the bans.
Fluorescent lighting products will be fully phased out over time.
Exemptions will remain only for critical or non-substitutable uses.
Policy aligns with global mercury reduction under the Minamata Convention.