On June 19, 2025, the following amendments to the Products Containing Mercury Regulations will be coming into force:
- On June 19, 2025, products for which mercury-free alternatives now exist and products that are no longer imported or manufactured in Canada will be prohibited.
- Examples: cold cathode tubing for signage or cove lighting (i.e. neon signs), photographic paper and films, radiation and infrared light detectors. Catalysts used in the manufacturing of polyurethane will also be prohibited on December 31, 2025.
- Between 2025 and 2030, the import, manufacture and finally the sale of the most common types of lamps containing mercury used for general lighting purposes will be gradually prohibited.
- Examples: compact fluorescent lamps, straight fluorescent lamps, non-linear fluorescent lamps.
- Lamps used for specialized purposes will continue to be exempted and will require reporting under different product categories.
- Examples: lamps to grow plants, to sanitize air or surfaces, to treat water, lamps used in projectors.
- Certain administrative aspects of the Regulations will be clarified.
- Example: aligning reporting timelines with those of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The next reports are therefore due by March 31, 2026 (on 2025 data), and by March 31, 2028 (on 2027 data).
The main objective of the amendments is to protect Canadians by lowering the risk of mercury releases into the environment from products containing mercury.
If you import or manufacture exempted or permitted products containing mercury in 2025, you must report them on or before March 31, 2026 via our online reporting system at ec.ss.ec.gc.ca
For more information, please refer to ECCC’s factsheet and compliance guide.