The Control of Mercury (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 1255

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

The 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(1).

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: (a) CFL.ni ≤ 30 watts not covered by entry 3, point (b); (b) CFL.i > 30 watts; (c) 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: (a) melt pressure transducers; (b) melt pressure transmitters; (c) 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”.

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)

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)—

(a)

decision MC - 4/3, adopted at the 4th Conference of the Parties (CP 1079), and

(b)

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.

(1)

EUR 2017/852; relevant amendments were made by S.I. 2020/1620.