LegalizeThe Control of Mercury (Amendment) Regulations 2025
Made: 1st December 2025
Laid before Parliament: 2nd December 2025
Coming into force: 23rd December 2025
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 20(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on mercury[^f00001].
In accordance with Article 21(8) of that Regulation, the Secretary of State makes these Regulations with the consent of the Welsh Ministers and the Scottish Ministers.
Citation, commencement and extent
1
- (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Control of Mercury (Amendment) Regulations 2025.
- (2) These Regulations come into force on 23rd December 2025.
- (3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.
Amendment of Part A of Annex 2 to Regulation (EU) 2017/852
2
- (1) Part A of Annex 2 to Regulation (EU) 2017/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on mercury is amended as follows.
- (2) After entry 2 insert—
| 2A. 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. | 31.12.2025 |
|---|---|
- (3) After entry 3 insert—
| 3A. CFLs for general lighting purposes: CFL.i ≤ 30 watts not covered by entry 3, point (a). | 31.12.2025 |
|---|---|
| 3B. The following CFLs for general lighting purposes: CFL.ni ≤ 30 watts not covered by entry 3, point (b); CFL.i > 30 watts; CFL.ni > 30 watts. | 31.12.2026 |
- (4) After entry 4 insert—
| 4A. LFLs for general lighting purposes: triband phosphor not covered by entry 4, point (a). | 31.12.2027 |
|---|---|
| 4B. LFLs for general lighting purposes: halophosphate phosphor not covered by entry 4, point (b). | 31.12.2026 |
| 4C. Non-linear fluorescent lamps (NFLs) (e.g. U-bend or circular) for general lighting purposes: halophosphate phosphor. | 31.12.2026 |
| 4D. NFLs for general lighting purposes: triband phosphor. | 31.12.2027 |
- (5) After entry 6 insert—
| 6A. CCFLs and EEFLs for electronic displays not covered by any of points (a) to (c) of entry 6. | 31.12.2025 |
|---|---|
- (6) After entry 9 insert—
| 10. Strain gauges to be used in or with plethysmographs and not covered by entry 9, point (f). | 31.12.2025 |
|---|---|
| 11. The following electrical and electronic measuring devices: melt pressure transducers; melt pressure transmitters; melt pressure sensors. This entry does not cover devices installed in large-scale equipment or used for high precision measurement, where no suitable mercury-free alternative is available. | 31.12.2025 |
| 12. Mercury vacuum pumps. | 31.12.2025 |
| 13. Tyre balancers and wheel weights. | 31.12.2025 |
| 14. Photographic film and paper. | 31.12.2025 |
| 15. Propellant for satellites and spacecraft. | 31.12.2025 |
Signed
Emma Hardy — Parliamentary Under Secretary of State — Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs — 1st December 2025
Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
Explanatory Note
These Regulations amend Regulation (EU) 2017/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on mercury (EUR 2017/852) (“the Mercury Regulation”). These amendments extend to England and Wales and Scotland only.
Annex 2 to the Mercury Regulation is amended to align it with the following decisions of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (Cm 9688)—
decision MC - 4/3, adopted at the 4th Conference of the Parties (CP 1079), and
decision MC - 5/4, adopted at the 5th Conference of the Parties (UNEP/MC/COP.5/Dec.4. A copy of the decision is available at: https://minamataconvention.org/en/documents/amendments-annexes-and-b-and-feasibility-mercury-free-alternatives-manufacturing).
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. A de minimis impact assessment is available from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF and is published with the Explanatory Memorandum alongside this instrument at www.legislation.gov.uk.
Footnotes
[^f00001]: EUR 2017/852; relevant amendments were made by S.I. 2020/1620.
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