Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/2/12

4 October 2007

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 374/2007

European Union (EU) * : Restrictions on the Marketing of Certain Measuring Devices Containing Mercury

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU has recently adopted a Directive to impose restrictions on the marketing of certain measuring devices containing mercury. Details are set out in Directive 2007/51/EC (the Directive). The Directive can be accessed through the following link :
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2007/l_257/l_25720071003en00130015.pdf.

DETAILS

2. In order to provide a higher level of protection to human health and the environment, the EU authorities considered necessary to restrict the marketing of certain measuring devices containing mercury. Starting from 3 April 2009, mercury-containing fever thermometers and other measuring devices intended for sale to the general public (e.g. manometers, barometers, sphygmomanometers and thermometers other than fever thermometers) will not be allowed to be placed on the market. However, the restriction shall not apply to measuring devices more than 50 years old on 3 October 2007. Additional phasing-out period is provided for mercury-containing barometers, which will be prohibited for sale to the public by 3 October 2009.
    

3. The Commission will also carry out a review to determine whether the restriction should be extended to sphygmomanometers and other measuring devices in healthcare and in other professional and industrial uses. Details of the restriction and the review are set out in the Annex to the Directive.

ENQUIRIES

4. For enquiries concerning the contents of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Cyrus NG)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.