Singapore Strengthens Mercury Restrictions for Batteries and Button Cells

Singapore has strengthened restrictions on mercury in batteries and button cells. The new requirements come into effect on March 31, 2018. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) March 07, 2018 - Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) has published new regulations on the use of mercury in batteries and button cells. Published on January 3, 2018, in circular NEA/HS/6.6, the new restrictions place several obligations on battery suppliers that will come into effect on March 31, 2018.

Issued under Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA, Chapter 94A), the new rules require:

• Strengthening of restrictions on mercury in batteries and button cells – all batteries must contain less than or equal to 0.0005% mercury per cell
• Currently compliant mercury containing batteries, imported before March 31, 2018, to remain on sale until stocks are exhausted
• Importers/Traders of stand-alone batteries must submit a one-off Declaration of Compliance (DoC), with supporting documents, to demonstrate compliance with the new requirements
• Importers/Traders of batteries that are bundled with products must submit a DoC and supporting documents upon request by NEA
• Traders must declare the import and export TradeNet permit applications using appropriate Harmonized System (HS) and product codes

HS and product codes have also been expanded to include:

• Manganese dioxide batteries
• Silver oxide batteries
• Air zinc batteries

The new HS codes will also come into effect on March 31, 2018. A full list of HS and product codes can be found in NEA/HS/6.6.

Stakeholders are advised to now ensure their products are compliant with the latest battery requirements for Singapore.

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For further information contact:

Eva Hu
Technical Supervisor, EET RSTS
Tel: +8622 65288314
Email: crs.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
Website: www.sgs.com/ee

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 95,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,400 offices and laboratories around the world.

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