On 5 October 2021, the Australian Government has issued the Recycling and Waste Reduction (Mandatory Product Stewardship - Mercury-added Products) Rules 2021, which aimed to implement the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

The rule prohibits the importation into, exportation from, and manufacturing in Australia of a mercury-added product. Besides, a mercury-added product incorporated into an assembled product is also prohibited.

Mercury-added products are listed in Part 1 of Annex A to the Minamata Convention, which include batteries, switch and relays, compact fluorescent lamps, linear fluorescent lamps, high pressure mercury vapour lamps, mercury in cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode fluorescent lamp, cosmetic, pesticides, biocides and topical antiseptics, and some non-electronic measuring devices.

The prohibition does not apply to:

1. products essential for civil protection and military uses; or
2. products for research, calibration of instrumentation, or for use as reference standards; or
3. if no feasible mercury-free alternative for replacement is available, the following:
1. switches and relays;
2. cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode fluorescent lamps for electronic displays;
3. measuring devices; or
4. products used in traditional or religious practices; or
5. vaccines containing thiomersal as preservatives.

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