Mercury: regulations and other management tools

This section highlights new reports about mercury and new mercury management tools/initiatives as they become available.

• Risk Management Strategy for Mercury
• Risk Management Strategy for Mercury-containing Products
• Final Notice: Pollution Prevention Planning in Respect of Mercury Releases from Dental Amalgam Waste
• Final Notice: Pollution Prevention Planning in respect of Mercury Releases from Mercury Switches in End-of-life Vehicles Processed by Steel Mills
• Code of Practice for the Environmentally Sound Management of End-of-life Lamps Containing Mercury

Risk Management Strategy for Mercury

October 2010

On October 19th, 2010, Environment Canada and Health Canada published the Risk Management Strategy for Mercury.

The Risk Management Strategy for Mercury provides a comprehensive and consolidated description of the Government of Canada's progress to date in managing the risks associated with mercury.  It also outlines objectives, priorities, current and anticipated actions, and monitoring programs in place to address the ongoing risks associated with mercury. 

For more information regarding this strategy, please contact:

Chemicals Management Division
Environment Canada
Place Vincent Massey
351 St. Joseph Blvd.
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0H3

Email address: GR-RM@ec.gc.ca

Fax number: (819) 994-0007

Risk Management Strategy for Mercury-containing Products

December, 2006

The Risk Management Strategy for Mercury-containing Products provides a framework for the development of control instruments to manage the environmental effects of mercury used in products.

For more information regarding this strategy, please contact:

Products Division
Environment Canada
351 St. Joseph Boulevard, 9th floor
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3

Email: ec.produits-products.ec@canada.ca

Telephone: 819-934-8079

Fax: 819-997-3068

Final Notice: Pollution Prevention Planning in Respect of Mercury Releases from Dental Amalgam Waste

May, 2010

On May 8^th, 2010 Environment Canada published a Final Notice under Part 4 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) outlining requirements to prepare and implement pollution prevention plans for mercury releases from dental amalgam waste. The Notice, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, targets dental facilities that have not implemented all of the best management practices set out in Appendix A of the Notice or in the "Memorandum of Understanding Respecting the Implementation of the Canada-wide Standard on Mercury for Dental Amalgam Waste" (PDF; 945 KB) between the Canadian Dental Association and Environment Canada for the voluntary implementation of the Canada-wide Standard on Mercury for Dental Amalgam Waste.

A fact sheet emphasizing key points, combining relevant dates and explaining in greater details specific requirements of the Notice is available.

For more information on the Notice and best management practices with respect to dental amalgam please visit the Pollution Prevention Planning Website or contact:

Environment Canada - Products Division

ec.produits-products.ec@canada.ca

(819) 934-6059

For more general information on pollution prevention and pollution prevention plans please contact:

Environment Canada - Innovative Measures Section

LCPEPlansP2-CEPAP2Plans@ec.gc.ca

819-994-0186

Final Notice: Pollution Prevention Planning in respect of Mercury Releases from Mercury Switches in End-of-life Vehicles Processed by Steel Mills

December, 2007

On December 29, 2007 Environment Canada published a Final Notice under Part 4 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) outlining requirements to prepare and implement pollution prevention plans for mercury releases from mercury switches in end-of-life vehicles processed by steel mills. The Notice, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, targets vehicle manufacturers and steel mills.

Forms referred in the Notice (Schedule 1 to 5) are to be filled out electronically at the Pollution Prevention Planning Website.

Address:

Products Division
Environment Canada
351 St. Joseph Boulevard, 9th floor
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3

Email: ec.produits-products.ec@canada.ca

Telephone: 819-934-6059

Fax: 819-997-3068

Code of Practice for the Environmentally Sound Management of End-of-life Lamps Containing Mercury

February 2017

On February 11, 2017 and pursuant to subsection 54(4) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change has published a Notice of the Code of Practice for the Environmentally Sound Management of End-of-life Lamps Containing Mercury in the Canada Gazette, Part 1. The full text of the Code of Practice is published on the CEPA Registry.

The Code of Practice is designed to encourage collectors, transporters and recyclers to incorporate best practices in their management of end-of-life mercury-containing lamps to prevent releases of mercury to the environment. Recognizing that northern and remote regions often face unique challenges that can make it difficult to collect and manage end-of-life mercury-containing lamps, the Code includes additional information on the diversion and end-of-life management options which can be used to facilitate the implementation of the best practices.

For more information, contact:

Address:

Waste Reduction and Management Division
Environment Canada
351 St. Joseph Boulevard, 9th floor
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3

Email: ec.dechetsdemercure-mercurywastes.ec@canada.ca

The Proposed Code of Practice for the Environmentally Sound Management of End-of-life Lamps Containing Mercury was posted on the CEPA Registry website on April 8, 2016 and public comments were invited until June 6, 2016. The Proposed Code and response to stakeholders’ comments are available online.