Newsletter
LABELING REQUIREMENTS FOR DRY CELLS
On 1 September 2006, the Environmental Pro-tection Administration (EPA) announced its Regulations on the Manufacture, Import, and Sale of Dry Cell Batteries, which took effect immediately. The Regulations limit the mercury content of manganese-zinc and manga-nese-alkaline cells (other than button cells) to no more than 5 ppm. Before a manufacturer or importer manufactures or imports such cells or offers them for sale, it must apply to the EPA for a document confirming the cells' mercury con-tent. The manufacture, importation, and sale of cells of the designated types containing more than 5 ppm of mercury will be prohibited.
From 1 December 2006, when cells of the des-ignated types, or products with which such cells are included, are offered for sale, the packaging of the cells or products must be clearly marked with the text (in Chinese): "The mercury content of the cells in this product conforms to EPA re-quirements", and the confirmation document number. A manufacturer or importer that vio-lates the above provisions will be subject to ad-ministrative fines of NT$60,000 to NT$300,000.
From 1 December 2006, when an enterprise of-fers for sale cells in respect of which a confir-mation document has been obtained, it should display the above text and the confirmation document number in a conspicuous position on the packaging of the cells or of products with which such cells are supplied, such as the back-ing card or shrink-wrap film of the cells or the external packaging of such products. The font used for such labeling must be at least 3 mm tall and 3 mm wide. This labeling requirement ini-tially applies to cells first offered for sale on or after 1 December 2006. It will apply to all cells of the designated types offered for sale from 1 September 2007.
Also, from 1 September 2006, cells of the des-ignated types that have not been determined by the EPA to have a mercury content below 5 ppm may not be offered for sale. Persons or entities violating this provision will be subject to ad-ministrative fines of NT$1,200 to NT$6,000.