(1)

In accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2017/852, the export, import and manufacturing in the Union of the mercury-added products set out in Annex II to that Regulation is to be prohibited as from the dates set out in that Annex, except those products that are essential for civil protection and military uses and those products for research, calibration of instrumentation, or for use as a reference standard.

(2)

The Minamata Convention on Mercury (‘the Convention’) was concluded by the Union by means of Council Decision (EU) 2017/939 (2) and entered into force on 16 August 2017. Article 4(1) of the Convention prohibits the export, import and manufacturing of mercury-added products listed in Part I of Annex A to that Convention after the phase-out date specified for those products. Article 4(8) of the Convention requires the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (‘COP’) to review Annex A to the Convention no later than five years after the date of its entry into force.

(3)

The Union submitted proposals to amend Annexes A and B to the Convention by means of Council Decision (EU) 2021/727 (3). The COP, at its fourth meeting, held from 21 to 25 March 2022, adopted Decision MC-4/3 amending Part I of Annex A to the Convention by including eight mercury-added products in that Annex. That Decision was supported by the Union by means of Council Decision (EU) 2022/549 (4).

(4)

Part A of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2017/852 already lists strain gauges to be used in plethysmographs as one of the mercury-added products included in Part I of Annex A to the Convention by Decision MC-4/3 as well as compact fluorescent lamps with an integrated ballast (CFL.i) for general lighting purposes that are ≤ 30 watts with a mercury content exceeding 2,5 mg per lamp burner. As a result and in order to align Regulation (EU) 2017/852 with Decision MC-4/3, it is necessary to include seven mercury-added products in Part A of Annex II to that Regulation: (i) compact fluorescent lamps with an integrated ballast (CFL.i) for general lighting purposes that are ≤ 30 watts with a mercury content not exceeding 2,5 mg per lamp burner, (ii) cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) and external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFL) of all lengths for electronic displays, (iii) melt pressure transducers, melt pressure transmitters and melt pressure sensors, (iv) mercury vacuum pumps, (v) tyre balancers and wheel weights, (vi) photographic film and paper, and (vii) propellant for satellites and spacecraft.

(5)

Regulation (EU) 2017/852 should therefore be amended accordingly,