Singapore - Proposed Control of Nine Mercury-added Products as Hazardous Substances

​The National Environment Agency (NEA) is seeking feedback on the proposed control of 2 groups of chemicals and 9 mercury-added products as hazardous substances (HS) under the Second Schedule of the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and the Schedule of the (EPM (HS) Regulations).

NEA intends to pre-emptively impose regulatory controls over the import, export, manufacture, offer for sale, transport, purchase, storage and/or use of medium chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) (C14-17 and chlorination levels ≥ 45% by weight) and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs) with carbon length of 9 to 21, their salts and related compounds.

In addition, NEA also proposes to control the following mercury-added products from January 1, 2025:

- Compact fluorescent lamps with an integrated ballast (CFL.i) for general lighting purposes that are ≤ 30 watts with a mercury content not exceeding 5 mg per lamp burner 

- Cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode fluorescent lamps of all lengths for electronic displays

- Strain gauges to be used in plethysmographs

- The following electrical and electronic measuring devices except those installed in large-scale equipment or those used for high precision measurement, where no suitable mercury free alternative is available:

a) Melt pressure transducers

b) Melt pressure transmitters and

c) Melt pressure sensors

- Mercury vacuum pumps

- Tyre balancers and wheel weights

- Photographic film and paper

- Propellant for satellites and spacecraft 

- Very high accuracy capacitance and loss measurement bridges and high frequency radio frequency switches and relays in monitoring and control instruments with a maximum mercury content of 20 mg per bridge switch or relay [except those used for research and development purposes]

This consultation will last 4 weeks from January 18, 2024 to February 15, 2024.​​