                                                                     
Revision of  the “Enforcement Order of the Act on Preventing  Mercury 
Pollution of the Environment .”  
                                                                       
July 2023 
 
Chemical Management Policy Division,  
Manufacturing Industries Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry  
Office of Mercury Management, Environmental Health Department, Ministry of  the Environment  
 
 
1. Outline  
At the Fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury 
(COP -4) - Second segment  (21 March  2022-25 March  2022), the list of mercury -using product s and 
mercury -using manufacturing processes  were  reviewed . As a result, it was decided that 8 mercury -
using products  were to be added to Annex A as mercury -using product s and to be phased -out from  
manufacture and export/import  by 2025 .  
In response to this, five mercury -using products that have no  domestic  manufacture, import nor 
export  will be designated as “specific mercury -using product ” whose manufacture is particularly in 
need of regulation  under the Enforcement Order of the Act on Preventing Mercury  Pollution of the 
Environment .  
 
<Mercury -using products  to be designated as “specific mercury -using product ” under Article 1  of 
the Enforcement Order of  the Act on Preventing Mercury Pollution of the Environment  > 
1. Strain gauges to be used in plethysmographs  
2. Mercury vacuum pumps  
3. Tyre balancers and wheel weights  
4. Photographic film and paper  
5. Propellant for satellites and spacecraft  
 
2. Purpose  
To protect human health from mercury and to maintain the integrity of the living environment  and 
to ensure the reliable and smooth implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury  through 
international cooperation , it is ne cessary  to take measures to regulate manufacture of mercury -using 
products  and restrict  their usage as components in manufactur ing other products .  
 
3. The expected date of enforcement  
Revision of the “Enforcement Order of the Act on Preventing Mercury Pollution of the Environment ” 
will ent er into force in January 2025 . 
 