Mercury-in-glass thermometer Medical Center and Las Piñas Hospital also made steps to ban the toxic chemical. The country was the first one to make a step to ban mercury from its health care system in Southeast Asia. Since European Union directive 2007/51/EC came into force on 3 April 2009, the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) reported that mercury thermometers could no longer be sold to the general public. Shops holding stocks of unsold thermometers had to withdraw them from sale; mercury thermometers purchased before this date could be used without legal implications. The purpose of these restrictions is to protect the environment
Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 safety standard. However, the EWG regarded CSIA as moving in the right direction because the EPA would have gained more authority to review existing chemicals and order companies to provide any relevant safety data about a specific chemical in question. Earthjustice further called for the final result of TSCA reform to be one that adequately protected workers continually exposed to hazardous chemicals, vulnerable populations, and communities most at risk because of high exposure to toxic chemicals. The CSIA would have required states to co-enforce any requirements laid out by the EPA, i.e. to have funding and man-power to enforce all