Canadian businesses that manufacture, import, or sell mercury-containing goods—especially lighting products—should prepare their operations now to ensure compliance ahead of the enforcement date.
Starting June 19, 2025, new rules targeting mercury-containing products will officially come into effect in Canada.
These include tighter controls on the manufacture and import of products containing mercury or any of its compounds, with limited exemptions for essential products that do not have technically or economically viable alternatives.
The new rules, established under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), are published in the Products Containing Mercury Regulations.
The updates introduce new product prohibitions, reinforce labelling and reporting requirements, and clarify the process for obtaining permits for mercury-containing products that are not exempt.
They apply to importers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of lamps containing mercury, who will have until mid-2025 to prepare for these changes.
The revised requirements aim to reduce mercury releases and protect both the environment and public health.
They also ensure that Canada meets its international obligations under the Minamata Convention while supporting the country’s domestic commitment to Canada’s National Strategy for Lamps Containing Mercury.
The most significant change introduced by the amendments is the phased prohibition of certain commonly used commercial and residential lamp types, which will face the following restrictions:
These timelines support the transition to more energy-efficient, mercury-free lighting technologies, such as light-emitting diode (LED).
Not all mercury-containing products are subject to the prohibitions. Several items remain exempt under the amended regulations, such as:
Please refer to Section 3, Schedule 1, and Schedule 2 of the regulations for the complete list of exemptions.
Importers and manufacturers may apply for permits for non-exempt products.
Permit applications must demonstrate that there are no viable mercury-free alternatives and outline how the importer or manufacturer will mitigate potential health and environmental risks.
The service standard for responding to applications is 90 days from the date they are received. Businesses are encouraged to apply for permits well in advance to avoid delays.
For detailed information on the permitting scheme, please refer to Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the regulations.
The amended regulations maintain the existing labelling requirements for all mercury-containing products, including those covered by exemptions or permits.
Products must display a clear bilingual label with the warning “Contains mercury / Contient du mercure,” along with instructions for safe handling, emergency procedures, and proper recycling or disposal.
In addition to labelling, the regulations mandate that manufacturers and importers submit their reports every third year. These reports must detail the type and quantity of mercury used in products sold or imported into Canada.
Upcoming reporting deadlines are:
These labelling and reporting requirements do not apply to replacement parts.
Importers and manufacturers of mercury-containing products are required to maintain detailed records of their activities.
These records must be retained for at least five years and made available upon request during inspections by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
To demonstrate compliance, the following information should be readily accessible:
Providing information to demonstrate that the mercury content of exempted products is at or below the specified limits would also help show compliance.
This may include factory dosage details, company engineering specifications, quality assurance and control processes used during product manufacturing, and testing results from an accredited laboratory.
While labelling and triennial reporting requirements do not apply to replacement parts, businesses must maintain documentation proving that they qualify as replacements.
Canadian importers and manufacturers are encouraged to start preparing for the transition before the June 19, 2025, deadline.
The recommended next steps include:
At Cole International, we offer customs and compliance consulting services to help businesses navigate and comply with changing regulations.
We also provide timely and efficient customs brokerage services to facilitate the entry of goods into Canada.
If you import mercury-containing products, please reach out to one of our trade professionals to discuss how to best prepare for the transition and ensure compliance with the new regulations.