Hong Kong gazettes commencement dates to control eight COP5 mercury-added product categories under Mercury Control Ordinance

Hong Kong issued a commencement notice (gazetted 26 March 2026) to bring into force new/expanded controls under the Mercury Control Ordinance (Cap. 640) for eight mercury-added product categories adopted under Minamata Convention COP5 amendments. The notice sets staged commencement (prohibition on manufacture/import/export after commencement, with limited allowances as specified) including: 27 March 2026 for certain button zinc silver oxide/zinc air batteries with mercury content <2 wt% and certain high-accuracy measurement bridges and RF switches/relays (≤20 mg Hg) and certain cosmetics (with specified trace/preservative exceptions); 31 December 2026 for specified compact fluorescent and halophosphate fluorescent lamps; and 31 December 2027 for specified triband phosphor fluorescent lamps. A grace period for supply/sale is stated through 31 January 2029, after which supply may be prosecuted. This is a jurisdictional implementation action aligning Hong Kong controls with Minamata COP5 Annex A changes (and related applicability for PRC/HKSAR).