- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (31/12/2020)
- Original (As adopted by EU)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on mercury, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1102/2008 (Text with EEA relevance)
When the UK left the EU, legislation.gov.uk published EU legislation that had been published by the EU up to IP completion day (31 December 2020 11.00 p.m.). On legislation.gov.uk, these items of legislation are kept up-to-date with any amendments made by the UK since then.
Legislation.gov.uk publishes the UK version. EUR-Lex publishes the EU version. The EU Exit Web Archive holds a snapshot of EUR-Lex’s version from IP completion day (31 December 2020 11.00 p.m.).
Point in time view as at 31/12/2020.
There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Regulation (EU) 2017/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.
This Regulation establishes measures and conditions concerning the use and storage of and trade in mercury, mercury compounds and mixtures of mercury, and the manufacture and use of and trade in mercury-added products, and the management of mercury waste, in order to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.
F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1Words in Art. 1 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 12
[F21.]For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:
‘mercury’ means metallic mercury (Hg, CAS RN 7439-97-6);
‘mercury compound’ means any substance consisting of atoms of mercury and one or more atoms of other chemical elements that can be separated into different components only by chemical reactions;
‘mixture’ means a mixture or solution composed of two or more substances;
‘mercury-added product’ means a product or product component that contains mercury or a mercury compound that was intentionally added;
‘mercury waste’ means metallic mercury that qualifies as waste as defined in point (1) of Article 3 of Directive 2008/98/EC;
‘export’ [F3(except in the expressions “exporting country” and “exported mercury”)] means any of the following:
‘import’ means the physical introduction into the [F7United Kingdom from a country other than one which is a member state on IP completion day] of mercury, mercury compounds, mixtures of mercury and mercury-added products F8...;
‘disposal’ means disposal as defined in point (19) of Article 3 of Directive 2008/98/EC;
‘primary mercury mining’ means mining in which the principal material sought is mercury;
‘conversion’ means the chemical transformation of the physical state of mercury from a liquid state to mercury sulfide or a comparable chemical compound that is equally or more stable and equally or less soluble in water and that presents no greater environmental or health hazard than mercury sulfide;
‘placing on the market’ means supplying or making available [F9in Great Britain], whether in return for payment or free of charge, to a third party. Import shall be deemed to be placing on the market.
[F10‘competent authority’ means—
for England and offshore installations in the English offshore area, the Environment Agency;
for Scotland and offshore installations in the Scottish offshore area, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency;
for Wales, the Natural Resources Body for Wales;
and ‘offshore installation’, ‘English offshore area’ and ‘Scottish offshore area’ have the meanings given in Schedule 2 to the Control of Mercury (Enforcement) Regulations 2017.]
[F10‘appropriate authority’ means—
in relation to England, the Secretary of State;
in relation to Scotland, the Scottish Ministers;
in relation to Wales, the Welsh Ministers;
but, for making regulations under these Regulations in relation to Scotland, the appropriate authority is the Secretary of State, if consent is given by the Scottish Ministers, and, for making regulations under these Regulations in relation to Wales, the appropriate authority is the Secretary of State, if consent is given by the Welsh Ministers.]
[F112.For the purposes of these Regulations, “Directive 2008/98/EC” means Directive 2008/98/EC as last amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851 and read in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4.
3.Article 5 of Directive 2008/98/EC is to be read as if—
(a)in paragraph 1, “Member States shall take appropriate measures to ensure that” were omitted;
(b)after paragraph 1 there were inserted—
“1A.Any decision as to whether a substance or object is a by-product must be made—
(a)in accordance with any regulations setting out detailed criteria on the application of the conditions in paragraph 1 to specific substances or objects; and
(b)having regard to any guidance published by the appropriate authority or the competent authority for the purposes of this Article.”;
(c)paragraphs 2 and 3 were omitted.
4.Article 6 of Directive 2008/98/EC is to be read as if—
(a)in paragraph 1, “Member States shall take appropriate measures to ensure that” were omitted;
(b)after paragraph 1 there were inserted—
“1A.Any decision as to whether a substance or object has ceased to be waste must be made—
(a)in accordance with any regulations or retained direct EU legislation setting out detailed criteria on the application of the conditions in paragraph 1 to specific types of waste; and
(b)having regard to any guidance published by the appropriate authority or the competent authority for the purposes of this Article.”;
(c)in paragraph 2—
(i)the first subparagraph were omitted;
(ii)in the second subparagraph, for “Those detailed criteria” there were substituted “Any detailed criteria set out in guidance as referred to in paragraph 1A”;
(iii)the third and fourth subparagraphs were omitted;
(d)paragraph 3 were omitted;
(e)in paragraph 4—
(i)in the first subparagraph—
(aa)in the first sentence, for the words from the beginning to “Member State” there were substituted “Where criteria have not been set as referred to in paragraph 1A(a), the competent authority”;
(bb)the second sentence were omitted;
(ii)in the second subparagraph—
(aa)for “Member States” there were substituted “The appropriate authority”;
(bb)“by competent authorities” were omitted.]
Textual Amendments
F2Art. 2 renumbered as Art. 2(1) (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 13(2)
F3Words in Art. 2(1)(6) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 13(3)(a)(i)
F4Words in Art. 2(1)(6)(a) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 13(3)(a)(ii)(aa)
F5Words in Art. 2(1)(6)(a) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 13(3)(a)(ii)(bb)
F6Art. 2(1)(6)(b) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 13(3)(a)(iii)
F7Words in Art. 2(1)(7) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 13(3)(b)(i)
F8Words in Art. 2(1)(7) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 13(3)(b)(ii)
F9Words in Art. 2(1)(11) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 13(3)(c)
F10Art. 2(1)(12)(13) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 13(3)(d)
F11Arts. 2(2)-(4) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 13(4)
1.The export [F12from Great Britain] of mercury shall be prohibited.
2.The export [F13from Great Britain] of the mercury compounds and of the mixtures of mercury listed in Annex I shall be prohibited as from the dates set out therein.
3.By way of derogation from paragraph 2, the export [F14from Great Britain] of the mercury compounds listed in Annex I for the purposes of laboratory-scale research or laboratory analysis shall be allowed.
4.The export [F15from Great Britain], for the purpose of reclaiming mercury, of mercury compounds and of mixtures of mercury that are not subject to the prohibition laid down in paragraph 2 shall be prohibited.
Textual Amendments
F12Words in Art. 3(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 14(2)
F13Words in Art. 3(2) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 14(3)
F14Words in Art. 3(3) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 14(4)
F15Words in Art. 3(4) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 14(5)
1.The import [F17into Great Britain of mercury and] mixtures of mercury listed in Annex I, including mercury waste from any of the large sources referred to in points (a) to (d) of Article 11, for purposes other than disposal as waste shall be prohibited. Such import for disposal as waste shall only be allowed where the exporting country has no access to available conversion capacity within its own territory.
Without prejudice to Article 11 and by way of derogation from the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the import [F18into Great Britain of mercury and] mixtures of mercury listed in Annex I for a use allowed in [F19Great Britain] shall be allowed where the [F20competent authority] has granted written consent to such import in either of the following circumstances:
(a)the exporting country is a Party to the Convention and the exported mercury is not from primary mercury mining that is prohibited under Article 3(3) and (4) of the Convention; or
(b)the exporting country not being a Party to the Convention has provided certification that the mercury is not from primary mercury mining.
F21...
2.The import [F22into Great Britain] of mixtures of mercury that do not fall under paragraph 1 and of mercury compounds, for the purpose of reclaiming mercury, shall be prohibited.
3.The import [F23into Great Britain] of mercury for use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing shall be prohibited.
4.Where the import [F24into Great Britain] of mercury waste is allowed in accordance with this Article, Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 shall continue to apply in addition to the requirements of this Regulation.
[F255.Paragraphs 1 to 3, except in so far as they apply to mercury waste, shall apply to the transport of mercury etc. from Northern Ireland into Great Britain, subject to the modifications in paragraphs 6 to 8.
6.Paragraph 1 is to be read as if—
(a)in the first subparagraph—
(i)in the first sentence for “import into Great Britain” there were substituted “transport from Northern Ireland into Great Britain”;
(ii)in the second sentence—
(aa)for “import” there were substituted “transport”;
(bb)for “the exporting country” there were substituted “Northern Ireland”;
(b)in the second subparagraph—
(i)for “import into Great Britain” there were substituted “transport from Northern Ireland into Great Britain”;
(ii)for “such import” there were substituted “such transport”.
7.Paragraph 2 is to be read as if for “import into Great Britain” there were substituted “transport from Northern Ireland into Great Britain”.
8.Paragraph 3 is to be read as if for “import into Great Britain” there were substituted “transport from Northern Ireland into Great Britain”.
9.Paragraphs 1 to 4 shall apply to the transport of mercury etc. from Great Britain into Northern Ireland, subject to the modifications in paragraphs 10 to 12.
10.Paragraph 1 is to be read as if—
(a)in the first subparagraph—
(i)in the first sentence for “import into Great Britain” there were substituted “transport from Great Britain into Northern Ireland”;
(ii)in the second sentence—
(aa)for “import” there were substituted “transport”;
(bb)for “the exporting country” there were substituted “Great Britain”;
(b)in the second subparagraph—
(i)for “import into Great Britain” there were substituted “transport from Great Britain into Northern Ireland”;
(ii)for “such import” there were substituted “such transport.”.
11.Paragraph 2 is to be read as if for “import into Great Britain” there were substituted “transport from Great Britain into Northern Ireland”.
12.Paragraph 3 is to be read as if for “import into Great Britain” there were substituted “transport from Great Britain into Northern Ireland”.]
Textual Amendments
F16Art. 4 heading substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 15(2)
F17Words in Art. 4(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 15(3)(a)
F18Words in Art. 4(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 15(3)(b)(i)
F19Words in Art. 4(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 15(3)(b)(ii)
F20Words in Art. 4(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 15(3)(b)(iii)
F21Words in Art. 4(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 15(3)(c)
F22Words in Art. 4(2) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 15(4)
F23Words in Art. 4(3) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 15(5)
F24Words in Art. 4(4) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 15(6)
F25Art. 4(5)-(12) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 15(7)
1.Without prejudice to stricter requirements set out in other applicable [F26retained EU law], the export, import and manufacturing in [F27Great Britain] of the mercury-added products set out in Annex II shall be prohibited as from the dates set out therein.
2.The prohibition laid down in paragraph 1 shall not apply to any of the following mercury-added products:
(a)products that are essential for civil protection and military uses;
(b)products for research, for calibration of instrumentation, or for use as a reference standard.
[F283.Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply to the transport of mercury-added products from Northern Ireland into Great Britain, and from Great Britain into Northern Ireland, subject to the following modification.
4.Paragraph 1 is to be read as if for “export, import and manufacturing in Great Britain” there were substituted “transport from Northern Ireland into Great Britain, and from Great Britain into Northern Ireland,]
Textual Amendments
F26Words in Art. 5(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 16(2)(a)
F27Words in Art. 5(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 16(2)(b)
F28Art. 5(3)(4) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 16(3)
The [F29appropriate authority may, by regulations,] specify forms to be used for the purpose of implementing Articles 3 and 4. F30...
Textual Amendments
F29Words in Art. 6 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 17(a)
F30Words in Art. 6 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 17(b)
1.The use of mercury and mercury compounds in the manufacturing processes listed in Part I of Annex III shall be prohibited as from the dates set out therein.
2.The use of mercury and mercury compounds in the manufacturing processes listed in Part II of Annex III shall only be allowed subject to the conditions set out therein.
3.Interim storage of mercury and of the mercury compounds and mixtures of mercury listed in Annex I to this Regulation shall be carried out in an environmentally sound manner, in accordance with the thresholds and requirements set out in [F31—
(a)for England and Wales, the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 and the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015;
(b)for Scotland, the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015.]
[F32The appropriate authority may, by regulations, prescribe] technical requirements for environmentally sound interim storage of mercury, mercury compounds and mixtures of mercury in line with decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in accordance with Article 10(3) and Article 27 of the Convention F33... F34...
Textual Amendments
F31Words in Art. 7(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 18(2)(a)
F32Words in Art. 7(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 18(2)(b)(i)(aa)
F33Words in Art. 7(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 18(2)(b)(i)(bb)
F34Words in Art. 7(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 18(2)(b)(ii)
1.Economic operators shall not manufacture or place on the market mercury-added products that were not being manufactured prior to 1 January 2018 (‘new mercury-added products’) unless authorised to do so [F35in accordance with] paragraph 6 of this Article or allowed to do so under [F36the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012].
The first subparagraph shall not apply to any of the following:
(a)equipment which is necessary for the protection of the essential interests of the security of [F37the United Kingdom], including arms, munitions and war material intended for specifically military purposes;
(b)equipment designed to be sent into space;
(c)technical improvements made to or the redesign of mercury-added products that were being manufactured prior to 1 January 2018 provided that such improvements or redesign lead to less mercury being used in those products.
2.Economic operators shall not use manufacturing processes involving the use of mercury or mercury compounds that were not processes used prior to 1 January 2018 (‘new manufacturing processes’) unless authorised to do so [F38in accordance with] paragraph 6.
The first subparagraph of this paragraph shall not apply to processes manufacturing or using mercury-added products other than those subject to the prohibition laid down in paragraph 1.
3.Where an economic operator intends to apply for [F39authorisation in accordance with] paragraph 6 in order to manufacture or place on the market a new mercury-added product, or to use a new manufacturing process, that would provide significant environmental or health benefits and pose no significant risks either to the environment or to human health, and where no technically practicable mercury-free alternatives providing such benefits are available, that economic operator shall notify [F40one of the competent authorities]. That notification shall include the following information:
(a)a technical description of the product or process concerned;
(b)an assessment of its environmental and health benefits and risks;
(c)evidence demonstrating the absence of technically practicable mercury-free alternatives providing significant environmental or health benefits;
(d)a detailed explanation of the manner in which the process is to be operated or the product is to be manufactured, used and disposed of as waste after use, in order to ensure a high level of protection of the environment and of human health.
[F414.The competent authority concerned shall forward to the Secretary of State, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, the Scottish Ministers and the Welsh Ministers the notification received from the economic operator if the competent authority considers on the basis of its own assessment of the information provided that the condition in the second subparagraph of paragraph 6 is fulfilled.
The competent authority concerned shall inform the Secretary of State, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, the Scottish Ministers and the Welsh Ministers of cases in which it considers that the condition in the second subparagraph of paragraph 6 is not fulfilled.]
F425.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.The [F43Secretary of State] shall examine the notification received and assess whether it has been demonstrated that the [F44condition in the second subparagraph is met].
[F45The condition is that the new mercury-added product or new manufacturing process would provide significant environmental or health benefits and pose no significant risks either to the environment or to human health, and that no technically practicable mercury-free alternatives providing such benefits are available.
The Secretary of State shall inform the competent authority of the result of the assessment under the first subparagraph.
Where the Secretary of State assesses that the condition in the second subparagraph is met, the Secretary of State shall, by regulations, specify that the relevant new mercury-added product or new manufacturing process is authorised.]
F467.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F35Words in Art. 8(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 19(2)(a)(i)
F36Words in Art. 8(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 19(2)(a)(ii)
F37Words in Art. 8(1)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 19(2)(b)
F38Words in Art. 8(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 19(3)
F39Words in Art. 8(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 19(4)(a)
F40Words in Art. 8(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 19(4)(b)
F41Art. 8(4) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 19(5)
F42Art. 8(5) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 19(6)
F43Words in Art. 8(6) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 19(7)(a)(i)
F44Words in Art. 8(6) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 19(7)(a)(ii)
F45Words in Art. 8(6) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 19(7)(b)
F46Art. 8(7) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 19(8)
1.Artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing in which mercury amalgamation is used to extract gold from ore shall be prohibited.
2.Without prejudice to paragraph 1 of this Article F47..., where there is evidence of there being more than isolated cases of non-compliance with the prohibition laid down in paragraph 1 of this Article, the competent authority F48... shall develop and implement a national plan in accordance with Annex IV.
Textual Amendments
F47Words in Art. 9(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 20(a)
F48Words in Art. 9(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 20(b)
1.From 1 January 2019, dental amalgam shall only be used in pre-dosed encapsulated form. The use of mercury in bulk form by dental practitioners shall be prohibited.
2.From 1 July 2018, dental amalgam shall not be used for dental treatment of deciduous teeth, of children under 15 years and of pregnant or breastfeeding women, except when deemed strictly necessary by the dental practitioner based on the specific medical needs of the patient.
F493.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.From 1 January 2019, operators of dental facilities in which dental amalgam is used or dental amalgam fillings or teeth containing such fillings are removed, shall ensure that their facilities are equipped with amalgam separators for the retention and collection of amalgam particles, including those contained in used water.
Such operators shall ensure that:
(a)amalgam separators put into service from 1 January 2018 provide a retention level of at least 95 % of amalgam particles;
(b)from 1 January 2021, all amalgam separators in use provide the retention level specified in point (a).
Amalgam separators shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions to ensure the highest practicable level of retention.
5.Capsules and amalgam separators complying with [F50United Kingdom standards, or with] international standards that provide an equivalent level of quality and retention, shall be presumed to satisfy the requirements set out in paragraphs 1 and 4.
6.Dental practitioners shall ensure that their amalgam waste, including amalgam residues, particles and fillings, and teeth, or parts thereof, contaminated by dental amalgam, is handled and collected by an authorised waste management establishment or undertaking.
Dental practitioners shall not release directly or indirectly such amalgam waste into the environment under any circumstances.
Textual Amendments
F49Art. 10(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 21(2)
F50Words in Art. 10(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 21(3)
Without prejudice to point (5) of Article 2 of this Regulation, mercury and mercury compounds, whether in pure form or in mixtures, from any of the following large sources shall be considered to be waste within the meaning of Directive 2008/98/EC and be disposed of without endangering human health or harming the environment, in accordance with [F51legislation which, immediately before IP completion day, implemented] that Directive:
the chlor-alkali industry;
the cleaning of natural gas;
non-ferrous mining and smelting operations;
extraction from cinnabar ore F52....
Such disposal shall not lead to any form of reclamation of mercury.
Textual Amendments
F51Words in Art. 11 inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 22(a)
F52Words in Art. 11(d) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 22(b)
1.Economic operators within the industry sectors referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of Article 11 shall send, each year by 31 May, the following to the competent [F53authority]:
(a)data on the total amount of mercury waste stored in each of their installations;
(b)data on the total amount of mercury waste sent to individual facilities undertaking the temporary storage, the conversion and, if applicable, solidification of mercury waste, or the permanent storage of mercury waste that underwent conversion and, if applicable, solidification;
(c)the location and contact details of each facility referred to in point (b);
(d)a copy of the certificate provided by the operator of the facility undertaking the temporary storage of mercury waste, in accordance with Article 14(1);
(e)a copy of the certificate provided by the operator of the facility undertaking the conversion and, if applicable, the solidification of mercury waste, in accordance with Article 14(2);
(f)a copy of the certificate provided by the operator of the facility undertaking the permanent storage of mercury waste that underwent conversion and, if applicable, solidification, in accordance with Article 14(3).
2.The data referred to in points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1 shall be expressed using the codes laid down in [F54Commission Decision 2000/532/EC].
3.The obligations laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall cease to apply to an economic operator of chlor-alkali installations from one year after the date that all mercury cells operated by the economic operator have been decommissioned in accordance with Implementing Decision 2013/732/EU and all mercury has been handed over to waste management facilities.
Textual Amendments
F53Word in Art. 12(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 23(2)
F54Words in Art. 12(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 23(3)
1.[F55Mercury] waste may be temporarily stored in liquid form provided that the specific requirements for the temporary storage of mercury waste [F56pursuant to the relevant regulations] are complied with and that such storage occurs in above-ground facilities dedicated to and equipped for the temporary storage of mercury waste.
The F57... first subparagraph shall cease to apply as from 1 January 2023.
[F58In the first subparagraph, “relevant regulations” means—
(a)for England and Wales, the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016;
(b)for Scotland, the Landfill (Scotland) Regulations 2003.]
2.The [F59appropriate authority may, by regulations, extend] the period allowed for temporary storage of mercury waste referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article by up to three years.
3.Prior to being permanently disposed of, mercury waste shall undergo conversion and, where intended to be disposed of in above-ground facilities, conversion and solidification.
Mercury waste that underwent conversion and, if applicable, solidification shall only be permanently disposed of in the following permanent storage facilities licensed for disposal of hazardous waste:
(a)salt mines that are adapted for the permanent storage of mercury waste that underwent conversion, or deep underground hard rock formations providing a level of safety and confinement equivalent to or higher than that of such salt mines; or
(b)above-ground facilities dedicated to and equipped for the permanent storage of mercury waste that underwent conversion and solidification and that provide a level of safety and confinement equivalent to or higher than that of the facilities referred to in point (a).
Operators of permanent storage facilities shall ensure that mercury waste that underwent conversion and, if applicable, solidification is stored separately from other waste and in disposal batches in a storage chamber that is sealed. F60...
Textual Amendments
F55Word in Art. 13(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 24(2)(a)(i)
F56Words in Art. 13(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 24(2)(a)(ii)
F57Words in Art. 13(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 24(2)(b)
F58Words in Art. 13(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 24(2)(c)
F59Words in Art. 13(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 24(3)
F60Words in Art. 13(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 24(4)
1.Operators of facilities undertaking the temporary storage of mercury waste shall establish a register including the following:
(a)for each shipment of mercury waste received:
the origin and amount of that waste;
the name and contact details of the supplier and the owner of that waste;
(b)for each shipment of mercury waste leaving the facility:
the amount of that waste and its mercury content;
the destination and intended disposal operation of that waste;
a copy of the certificate provided by the operator of the facility undertaking the conversion and, if applicable, the solidification of that waste, as referred to in paragraph 2;
a copy of the certificate provided by the operator of the facility undertaking the permanent storage of the mercury waste that underwent conversion and, if applicable, solidification, as referred to in paragraph 3;
(c)the amount of mercury waste stored at the facility at the end of each month.
Operators of facilities undertaking the temporary storage of mercury waste shall, as soon as the mercury waste is taken out of temporary storage, issue a certificate confirming that the mercury waste was sent to a facility undertaking disposal operations covered by this Article.
Once a certificate as referred to in the second subparagraph of this paragraph is issued, a copy thereof shall be transmitted without delay to the economic operators concerned referred to in Article 12.
2.Operators of facilities undertaking the conversion and, if applicable, the solidification of mercury waste shall establish a register including the following:
(a)for each shipment of mercury waste received:
the origin and amount of that waste;
the name and contact details of the supplier and the owner of that waste;
(b)for each shipment of mercury waste that underwent conversion and, if applicable, solidification leaving the facility:
the amount of that waste and its mercury content;
the destination and intended disposal operation of that waste;
a copy of the certificate provided by the operator of the facility undertaking the permanent storage of that waste, as referred to in paragraph 3;
(c)the amount of mercury waste stored at the facility at the end of each month.
Operators of facilities undertaking the conversion and, if applicable, the solidification of mercury waste shall, as soon as the conversion and, if applicable, the solidification operation of the entire shipment is completed, issue a certificate confirming that the entire shipment of mercury waste has been converted and, if applicable, solidified.
Once a certificate as referred to in the second subparagraph of this paragraph is issued, a copy thereof shall be transmitted without delay to the operators of the facilities referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article and to the economic operators concerned referred to in Article 12.
3.Operators of facilities undertaking the permanent storage of mercury waste that underwent conversion and, if applicable, solidification shall, as soon as the disposal operation of the entire shipment is completed, issue a certificate confirming that the entire shipment of mercury waste that underwent conversion and, if applicable, solidification has been placed into permanent storage in compliance with [F61the relevant regulations], including information on the storage location.
Once a certificate as referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph is issued, a copy thereof shall be transmitted without delay to the operators of the facilities referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article as well as to the economic operators concerned referred to in Article 12.
[F623A.In paragraph 3, “relevant regulations” means—
(a)for England and Wales, the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016;
(b)for Scotland, the Landfill (Scotland) Regulations 2003.]
4.Each year by 31 January, the operators of the facilities referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall transmit the register for the previous calendar year to the competent [F63authority]. The competent [F64authority] shall annually communicate each transmitted register to the [F65relevant authority].
[F665.In paragraph 4, “relevant authority” means—
(a)for England and offshore installations in the English offshore area, the Secretary of State;
(b)for Scotland and offshore installations in the Scottish offshore area, the Scottish Ministers;
(c)for Wales, the Welsh Ministers;
and ‘offshore installation’, ‘English offshore area’ and ‘Scottish offshore area’ have the meanings given in Schedule 2 to the Control of Mercury (Enforcement) Regulations 2017.]
Textual Amendments
F61Words in Art. 14(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 25(2)
F62Art. 14(3A) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 25(3)
F63Word in Art. 14(4) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 25(4)(a)
F64Word in Art. 14(4) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 25(4)(b)(i)
F65Words in Art. 14(4) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 25(4)(b)(ii)
F66Art. 14(5) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 25(5)
1.The [F67Secretary of State] shall organise an exchange of information with [F68the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, the Scottish Ministers and the Welsh Ministers] regarding the measures taken at national level to identify and assess sites contaminated by mercury and mercury compounds and to address the significant risks such contamination may pose to human health and the environment.
[F692.By 1st January 2021 the Secretary of State shall make the information gathered pursuant to paragraph 1 publicly available on the internet.
3.By 1st January 2021 the enforcing authority shall publish, in a manner which it considers appropriate, the particulars of remediation notices relating to sites contaminated by mercury and mercury compounds served by that authority in the register it keeps in accordance with section 78R of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
In the first subparagraph, “enforcing authority” has the meaning given in section 78A(9) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.]
Textual Amendments
F67Words in Art. 15(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 26(2)(a)
F68Words in Art. 15(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 26(2)(b)
F69Art. 15(2)(3) substituted for Art. 15(2) (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 26(3)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F70Art. 16 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 27
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F71Art. 17 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 27
1.By 1 January 2020 and at appropriate intervals thereafter, [F72the Secretary of State shall prepare] and make publicly available on the internet a report with the following:
(a)information concerning the implementation of this Regulation;
(b)information needed for the fulfilment by the [F73United Kingdom] of its reporting obligation under Article 21 of the Convention;
(c)a summary of the information gathered in accordance with Article 12 of this Regulation;
(d)information regarding mercury located in [F74the United Kingdom]:
a list of sites where stocks of more than 50 metric tonnes of mercury other than mercury waste are located as well as the amount of mercury at each site;
a list of sites where more than 50 metric tonnes of mercury waste is accumulated as well as the amount of mercury waste at each site; and
(e)a list of sources supplying more than 10 metric tonnes of mercury per year, where [F75the Secretary of State is] made aware of such sources.
[F76The Secretary of State] may decide not to make any of the information referred to in the first subparagraph publicly available [F77to the extent that an exception to disclosure applies under the relevant regulations].
[F78In the second subparagraph, “relevant regulations” means—
(a)for England and Wales, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004;
(b)for Scotland, the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.]
F792.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F803.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F72Words in Art. 18(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 28(2)(a)(i)
F73Words in Art. 18(1)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 28(2)(a)(ii)
F74Words in Art. 18(1)(d) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 28(2)(a)(iii)
F75Words in Art. 18(1)(e) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 28(2)(a)(iv)
F76Words in Art. 18(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 28(2)(b)(i)
F77Words in Art. 18(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 28(2)(b)(ii)
F78Words in Art. 18(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 28(2)(c)
F79Art. 18(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 28(3)
F80Art. 18(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 28(3)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F81Art. 19 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 29
1.The Secretary of State may, by regulations, amend Annex 1 or 2 to align it with a decision adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in accordance with Article 27 of the Convention.
2.The appropriate authority may, by regulations, amend Annex 3 or 4 to align it with a decision adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in accordance with Article 27 of the Convention.]
Textual Amendments
F82 Arts. 20, 21 substituted for Arts. 20-22 (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 30
1.Regulations made by the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers under this Regulation are to be made by statutory instrument.
2.For regulations made by the Scottish Ministers under this Regulation, see section 27 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.
3.A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Secretary of State under this Regulation is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
4.A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Welsh Ministers under this Regulation is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of Senedd Cymru.
5.Regulations made by the Scottish Ministers under this Regulation are subject to the negative procedure (see section 28 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010).
6.Regulations made under this Regulation may—
(a)contain consequential, incidental, supplementary, transitional or saving provision (including provision amending, repealing or revoking enactments (which has the meaning given by section 20(1) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018));
(b)make different provision for different purposes.
7.Regulations may only be made under Article 8 or 20(1) in relation to the whole of Great Britain.
8.Regulations may not be made under Article 8 or 20(1) without the consent of—
(a)in relation to Scotland, the Scottish Ministers;
(b)in relation to Wales, the Welsh Ministers.
9.Where the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers request that the Secretary of State makes regulations under Article 20(1), the Secretary of State must have regard to that request.]
Textual Amendments
F82 Arts. 20, 21 substituted for Arts. 20-22 (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 30
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F82 Arts. 20, 21 substituted for Arts. 20-22 (31.12.2020) by The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 30
Regulation (EC) No 1102/2008 is repealed with effect from 1 January 2018.
References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex V.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F83Art. 24 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 31
F84...
Done at Strasbourg, 17 May 2017.
For the European Parliament
The President
A. Tajani
For the Council
The President
C. Abela
Textual Amendments
F84Words in Signature omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1620), regs. 2(2), 31
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As adopted by EU): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was first adopted in the EU. No changes have been applied to the text.
Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different versions taken from EUR-Lex before exit day and during the implementation period as well as any subsequent versions created after the implementation period as a result of changes made by UK legislation.
The dates for the EU versions are taken from the document dates on EUR-Lex and may not always coincide with when the changes came into force for the document.
For any versions created after the implementation period as a result of changes made by UK legislation the date will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. For further information see our guide to revised legislation on Understanding Legislation.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: