A Government spokesman said today (September 16) that the Mercury Control Ordinance (Commencement) Notice (the Commencement Notice), which seeks to appoint December 1, 2021, as the day on which the Mercury Control Ordinance comes into operation, was approved by the Legislative Council yesterday (September 15).
The Ordinance ensures the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's full compliance with the international obligations of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and protects public health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. Starting from December 1, 2021, the Ordinance will introduce a permit system to control the import and export of mercury and mercury mixtures; prohibit the manufacture, import and export of mercury-added products listed in the Convention; prohibit the use of mercury and mercury compounds in the manufacturing processes listed in the Convention; and introduce a permit system to control the storage of mercury and mercury compounds.
Upon the commencement of the Ordinance, the current interim control of elemental mercury trading under the Import and Export (General) Regulations (Cap. 60 sub. leg. A) will be repealed.
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