GATINEAU, QC, June 19,
2024 /CNW/ - Over the years, the Government of
Canada has taken firm action to
protect Canadians and their environment from the harmful effects of
mercury, including through its Products Containing Mercury
Regulations, which made Canada
one of the leading countries to prohibit mercury-containing
products.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of
Environment and Climate Change, and the Honourable Mark Holland,
Minister of Health, announced the publication of the final
Regulations Amending the Products Containing Mercury
Regulations, which will prohibit the import and manufacture of
the most common lamps containing mercury for general lighting
purposes as of December 31, 2025.
These regulations are the final step that will allow
Canada to fully align with the
international Minamata Convention on Mercury for products.
Prohibiting the manufacture and import of the most common lamps
containing mercury in Canada is
identified as a key priority in the National Strategy for Lamps
Containing Mercury, which seeks to eliminate lamps as a source of
mercury pollution in Canada. By 2035, it is expected that the
regulations will allow Canada to
decrease the quantity of mercury released from lamps into the
environment by 91 percent (681 kilograms) and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by 4.6 megatonnes.
Since the adoption of the Products Containing Mercury
Regulations in 2015, the market for mercury-containing
products has declined, and most lamps initially exempt from
prohibition now have readily available substitutes in Canada. To facilitate the transition to
mercury-free alternatives for lamps that are already in use, the
regulations will allow a two-year exemption for replacement lamps
to continue to be imported or manufactured for pin-base compact
fluorescent lamps, straight fluorescent lamps, and non-linear
fluorescent lamps until the end of 2027. Retailers will be allowed
to sell their stock of replacement lamps until the end of 2029.
Quotes
"As a known toxic substance, mercury has been managed in many
ways over the past fifty years. We've seen the release of mercury
into the air and water decline by half since 2007. It is crucial
that we continue to protect the health of Canadians and their
environment, while encouraging businesses to transition to safer
alternatives."
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of
Environment and Climate Change
"Given the significant negative impact of mercury on human
health, natural resources and the environment, we have further
strengthened our regulations in an effort to reduce the use and
release of mercury into our surroundings. These measures are part
of our ongoing commitment to minimizing mercury exposure, and we
will continue collaborating with our various partners to further
protect public health and the environment."
– The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health
Quick facts
- Mercury is a heavy metal that occurs naturally in the
environment and can be converted into various forms, including
methylmercury, a highly toxic compound that accumulates in living
organisms.
- The main exposure for humans is by consuming fish or
fish-eating mammals that have heightened levels of
methylmercury.
- In humans, methylmercury affects the central nervous system and
is particularly damaging to fetuses, infants, and young children,
who are vulnerable due to their developing nervous systems.
- In animals, mercury exposure is associated with neurological
and reproductive effects.
- Mercury was one of the first substances added to Schedule 1 of
the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
- The regulations will apply to screw-base compact fluorescent
lamps, pin-base compact fluorescent lamps, straight fluorescent
lamps, and non-linear fluorescent lamps for new installation.
- Lamps used for essential purposes that do not have viable
mercury-free alternatives, such as those to treat water or to grow
plants, will remain exempted at this time.
- Although they are safe to use, when a lamp containing mercury
breaks, the mercury can be released and contaminate the room you
are in and the environment. It is important to safely handle and
recycle these lamps.
- In Canada, different ways to
dispose of lamps containing mercury are available depending on
where you live. For provinces with a light-recycling extended
producer responsibility program, visit Product Care Recycling for
your closest depot. For other provinces and territories, contact
your local municipality for safe disposal opportunities near
you.
Related products
- Final Regulations Amending the Products Containing Mercury
Regulations
- Products Containing Mercury Regulations Factsheet
Associated links
- Mercury and the environment
- Canada's National Strategy for
Lamps Containing Mercury
- Minamata Convention on Mercury
Health Canada's X (Twitter)
page
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Environment and Climate Change Canada's X (Twitter) page
Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page
SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada