G/TBT/N/TPKM/590

2 April 2026

(26-2652)

Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade

Original: English

2.

Agency responsible:

Resource Circulation Administration

Ministry of Environment

3.

Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [ ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [ ], 3.2 [ ], 7.2 [ ], Other:

4.

Products covered (HS codes or national tariff lines. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): One-time-use non-button type cell batteries: manganese-zinc batteries and alkaline manganese batteries; One-time-use button cell batteries: alkaline manganese batteries, mercuric oxide batteries and silver oxide batteries

5.

Details of notified document(s) (title, number of pages and languages, means of access): Draft Amendment to the "Restrictions on the Manufacture, Import, and Sale of Dry Cell Batteries"; (11 page(s), in Chinese), (13 page(s), in English)

Link to notified document(s) and/or contact details for agency or authority which can provide copies upon request:

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/TBT/TPKM/26_01854_00_x.pdf

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/TBT/TPKM/26_01854_00_e.pdf

WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: tbtenq@bsmi.gov.tw

6.

Description of content: The "Restrictions on the Manufacture, Import, and Sale of Dry Cell Batteries" (hereinafter referred to as the "Announcement") was first promulgated on 27 March 2006, and has been revised three times, most recently on 2 March 2015. To strengthen domestic mercury management and align with the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Ministry of Environment amended the "Regulated Toxic Chemical Substances and Their Management Matters" in 2025 to remove the permitted use of mercury in the manufacturing of silver oxide and zinc-air button cell batteries with a mercury content of less than 2%. Accordingly, relevant provisions of the Announcement and Attached Table 1 of Item 2 will be revised.

7.

Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: Protection of the environment

8.

Relevant documents:

Government Gazette, Vol. 032, No. 045, dated 13 March 2026

(https://gazette.nat.gov.tw/egFront/e_detail.do?metaid=164144)

Waste Disposal Act

Relevant notifications:

• G/TBT/N/TPKM/178

9.

Proposed date of adoption: To be determined

Proposed date of entry into force: 1 July 2026; Except for Items 6 and 8, which take effect immediately upon adoption, the remaining provisions shall enter into force on that date.

10.

Provision of comments

Final date for comments: 1 June 2026

[X] 60 days from notification

Contact details of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification:

Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection

Ministry of Economic Affairs

No. 4, Sec. 1, Jinan Rd., Zhongzheng Dist.

Taipei City 100, Taiwan

Tel: +(886-2) 23431700#1566

Fax: +(886-2) 23431804

Email: tbtenq@bsmi.gov.tw