Overview of the Regulations
The Products Containing Mercury Regulations help protect the environment and human health by reducing releases of mercury from products to the lowest level that is technically and economically feasible.
The Regulations broadly prohibit the import and manufacture of all products containing mercury or any of its compounds, with limited exemptions for essential products that do not have technically or economically viable alternatives. Exempted products, including replacement parts and products listed in the two schedules of the Regulations, may be subject to labelling, reporting and record keeping requirements. In some cases, the sale of lamps containing mercury is also prohibited.
Scope of the Regulations
The Regulations apply to anyone importing, manufacturing or selling products containing mercury in Canada (for example, fluorescent lamps) or components containing mercury (for example, an ultraviolet lightbulb within an air purifier).
For importers and manufacturers of products containing mercury, the main requirements include:
- complying with the prohibition on import and manufacture of all products containing mercury, unless they are subject to an exemption or a permit under the Regulations
- respecting maximum mercury content limits for exempted lamps, where applicable
- labelling exempted products, where applicable
- reporting every three years on import, manufacture, and export activities
- keeping a record of required information for five years.
For anyone who sells lamps containing mercury, the main requirements include:
- stopping the sale of the most common types of lamps used for general lighting before January 1, 2030 (for example pin-base compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), straight fluorescent lamps (also known as linear fluorescent lamp or LFL) and non-linear fluorescent lamps).
For more information, consult the documents in the Factsheet and guides section below.
Factsheet and guides
Voluntary business reply form
Companies and other entities that may be subject to the Regulations can complete this short online form to help ECCC assist them in understanding and complying with the requirements of the Regulations. By completing the form, you may be added to an ECCC mailing list, if applicable to your activities.
Amendments 2024
On June 19, 2024, amendments to the Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, with a coming into force date of June 19, 2025.
Effective June 19, 2025
- Certain administrative aspects of the Regulations are clarified and adjusted, including the reporting timelines to align them with those of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the reporting on export activities which become mandatory.
- The maximum mercury content for CFLs and LFLs is lowered.
- The import and manufacture of additional products are prohibited:
- Dental amalgam powders in bulk form
- High frequency switches and relays
- Radiation and infrared light detector
- Low mercury chloride, sulfate and oxide reference electrodes
- Photographic film and paper
- Composite and adhesive resins used in the aerospace industry
- Cold cathode fluorescent lamp, and external electrode fluorescent lamp (expect those considered as replacement parts)
- Cold cathode tubing for signage or cove lighting, and electrode for use in cold cathode tubing for signage or cove lighting (except those required for repairs)
Effective December 31, 2025 – Phase out of the most common types of lamps and of catalysts
- The import and manufacture of the most common types of lamps containing mercury used for general lighting purposes are prohibited. This prohibition is followed by a two-year exemption period for certain replacement lamps, and then by another two-year exemption period for their sale (see Table 1 for details).
- The import and manufacture of bulbs for automobile headlamps are prohibited, except for those used as replacement.
- The import and manufacture of catalysts used in the manufacturing of polyurethane are prohibited.
| Lamps | Start of the prohibition for import and manufacture of lamps |
Exemption period for the import and manufacture of replacement lamps |
Start date for the prohibition of selling lamps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screw-base compact fluorescent lamp |
January 1, 2026 | None | None |
| Pin-based compact fluorescent lamp |
January 1, 2026 | From January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027 | January 1, 2030 |
| Straight fluorescent lamp |
January 1, 2026 | From January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027 | January 1, 2030 |
| Non-linear fluorescent lamp |
January 1, 2026 | From January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027 | January 1, 2030 |
Effective December 31, 2028 – Phase down of high intensity discharge lamps
The import and manufacture of high intensity discharge lamps containing mercury used for general lighting purposes are prohibited, while continuing to exempt those used as replacement lamps (see Table 2 for details).
| Lamps | Start of the prohibition for import and manufacture of lamps |
Exemption period for the import and manufacture of replacement lamps |
Start date for the prohibition of selling lamps |
|---|---|---|---|
| High pressure sodium vapour lamp |
January 1, 2029 | Starting on January 1, 2029 | None |
| Metal halide lamp |
January 1, 2029 | Starting on January 1, 2029 | None |
Related links
Disclaimer
This webpage is provided for informational purposes only. It does not cover all aspects of the Products Containing Mercury Regulations. In the case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the Regulations, the official version of the Regulations prevails.
Contact us
If you require further assistance or have any questions, please contact the Chemical Production and Products Division of Environment and Climate Change Canada by email: produits-products@ec.gc.ca