Maine bans PBDEsand mercury button cells
The governor of Maine has signed into law two bills restricting the use of deca-PBDE (a flame retardant) and mercury in button batteries.
challenge:
Effective January 1, 2010, no one may manufacture, sell, supply for sale, distribute for sale, or use television or computer products with plastic casings containing decabromodiphenyl ether in concentrations exceeding 0.1% in Maine.
Exemptions:
1. Second-hand products;
2. Because PBDE is already present in the recycled materials used; or
3. Products produced before January 1, 2006, and replacement parts containing pentabromodiphenyl ether or octabromodiphenyl ether.
The requirements for mercury-containing button batteries are more stringent:
Starting from June 30, 2011, no one is allowed to sell, supply, distribute or provide for promotional purposes the following mercury-containing button batteries, or products containing any of the following mercury-containing button batteries:
1. Zinc air button battery;
2. Alkaline manganese button battery; or
3. Silver oxide button batteries marked SR357, SR364, SR371, SR377 or SR395,
In addition, after January 1, 2015, no one may sell, offer for sale, or provide for the purpose of promotion silver oxide button batteries containing mercury, or any products using such batteries.
- Reference source: HKTDC 2009-06-10
