23rd December 2025 – (Hong Kong) Hong Kong will bring into force new controls on mercury-added products under the amended Mercury Control Ordinance (Cap. 640) on 31st December 2025, extending regulation to eight additional categories of mercury-containing goods.
The Government finalised amendments to the Ordinance in June to implement decisions adopted at the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The changes support a phased withdrawal of mercury-added products that pose risks to human health and the environment, thereby reducing public exposure and enhancing environmental protection.
An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that, once in effect, the manufacture, import, export and supply of the newly regulated mercury-added products will be prohibited. Breaches will constitute an offence punishable on conviction by a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and up to one year’s imprisonment.
To ease the transition, the Government has introduced a grace period for the supply of the newly regulated products—excluding their manufacture, import and export—running until January 2029. After the grace period ends, continued supply of the affected products may result in prosecution, subject to sufficient evidence.
To support compliance, the EPD has written to stakeholders, including importers, exporters and distributors of the relevant products, outlining the new control requirements and implementation details. The department has also conducted outreach visits to provide guidance to the trade.
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