| Legislative： |
Amendments have been made to certain items in the "Restriction on the Manufacturing, Import and Sale of Dry Cell Batteries" announcement and Appendix 1 of Item 2. Except for Items 6 and 8 of the announcement, which are effective immediately, the amendments
will take effect on July 1, 2026. |
| Content： |
Announcement Key Points:
I. Terms used in this Announcement are defined as follows:
(I) "Dry cell battery" refers to a battery in which the electrolyte is not able to flow freely.
(II) "Single-use battery" (or “one-time use battery”) refers to a battery constructed to employ chemical energy derived from chemical reactions in accordance with electrochemical processes so as to directly discharge electricity, and so that the electric potential produced by the chemical reaction is irreversible.
(III) "Designated battery" refers to the following single-use batteries regulated by this Announcement:
1. Non-button type batteries:
（1） Manganese-zinc battery: A battery that uses manganese dioxide as the effective anodic material and zinc as the effective cathodic material, and that uses an aqueous solution of a neutral salt such as ammonium chloride or zinc chloride as the electrolyte; this battery is commonly known as a carbon-zinc battery.
（2） Alkaline manganese battery: A battery that uses manganese dioxide as the effective anodic material and zinc as the effective cathodic material, and uses an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide as the electrolyte; this battery is commonly known as an alkaline battery.
2. Button cell batteries:
（1） Alkaline manganese battery: A battery that uses manganese dioxide as the effective anodic material and zinc as the effective cathodic material, and uses an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide as the electrolyte.
（2） Mercuric oxide battery: A battery that uses mercuric oxide as the effective anodic material and zinc or magnesium as the effective cathodic material.
（3） Silver oxide battery: A battery that uses silver oxide as the effective anodic material and zinc as the effective cathodic material, with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide as the electrolyte.
（4） Zinc-air battery: A battery that uses a zinc alloy as the effective anodic material and oxygen as the cathodic effective material, with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide as the electrolyte.
(IV) "Manufacturer" refers to a business engaged in the manufacture of designated batteries or goods attached with designated batteries (such as toys, clocks, electrical appliances, etc.), or a business that engages in manufacturing activities such as attaching designated batteries after the goods are manufactured or imported.
(V) "Importer" refers to a business engaged in the importation of designated batteries or goods attached with designated batteries (such as toys, clocks, electrical appliances, etc.).
(VI) "Vendor" refers to a business engaged in marketing behaviors such as wholesale, retail, gifting, and prize exchange of designated batteries or goods attached with designated batteries (such as toys, clocks, electrical appliances, etc.).
II. The heavy metal content limits and implementation schedules for designated batteries are as shown in Attached Table 1.
III. Manufacturers and importers shall comply with the following regulations:
(I) They shall apply to the local competent authority of the municipality, county, or city to obtain a confirmation document for the mercury and cadmium content of designated batteries (hereinafter referred to as the "confirmation document") before manufacture or import.
(II) Manufacturers or importers of goods attached with designated batteries that adopt designated batteries that have already obtained a confirmation document, and have obtained the consent of the manufacturer or importer who holds said confirmation document, are not required to re-apply for a confirmation document.
(III) The confirmation document number shall be marked in a prominent place on the packaging of the designated batteries or goods attached with designated batteries. The height or width of the marked font shall not be less than 0.3 cm and shall be clearly legible. However, if the maximum area available for marking on the product packaging is smaller than 3 cm × 4.3 cm and marking is difficult, the marking may be placed on the outer packaging or the display rack, provided it is clearly identifiable at the time of sale.
IV. Vendors shall not sell designated batteries that have not obtained a confirmation document from the competent authority or have not been marked in accordance with the regulations.
V. When applying for a confirmation document, the documents and items listed in Attached Table 2 shall be submitted.
VI. For confirmation documents issued by the municipal, county, or city competent authority, the items to be recorded and the validity period are as follows:
(I) The items to be recorded in the confirmation document are as shown in Attached Table 3.
(II) The approved validity period of a confirmation document shall not exceed five years. Those who continue to manufacture or import upon expiration shall re-apply within three months prior to expiration.
(III) For those applying for a mercury content confirmation document for button cell batteries before June 30, 2026, the approved validity period of the confirmation document shall not exceed June 30, 2026.
VII. When the recorded matters of a confirmation document change, it shall be handled in accordance with the following regulations:
(I) When the name, address, or responsible person of the manufacturer or importer changes, an application for change shall be made to the competent authority of the new location within fifteen days after the change or within the period notified by the competent authority.
(II) For other changes to the content of the confirmation document, a new application for a confirmation document shall be submitted prior to the change.
VIII. （Deleted）
IX. In any of the following circumstances involving a manufacturer or importer, the original competent authority that issued the confirmation document may revoke or cancel the confirmation document:
(I) Where random testing in the domestic market conducted by the competent authority reveals that the heavy metal content exceeds the limits applicable to the implementation schedule in Attached Table 1.
(II) Where the application documents are false or misleading.
(III) Other violations of matters determined by the competent authority where the circumstances are severe.
X. A manufacturer or importer whose confirmation document has been revoked or canceled by the original issuing competent authority may re-apply for a confirmation document for the same category and type of designated battery only after six months have elapsed from the completion of improvement.
XI. Where random testing of designated batteries conducted by the competent authority reveals that the heavy metal content exceeds the limits applicable to the implementation schedule in Attached Table 1, the original issuing competent authority may order the manufacturer or importer to remove the products from shelves and recall them within a specified time limit, and to return the shipment or clear and dispose of them in accordance with the Waste Disposal Act.
XII. Designated batteries manufactured or imported before the implementation schedule of the heavy metal content limits in Attached Table 1 or before the expiration of the validity period of a confirmation document shall be handled in accordance with the following regulations; the determination of the manufacture or import date shall be based on the batch number and production reports or other certificates for manufacturers, and the import customs declaration form for importers:
(I) Designated batteries or goods attached with designated batteries manufactured or imported before the expiration of the validity period of the manufacturer's or importer's confirmation document may still continue to be sold after the expiration of said confirmation document.
(II) Mercury content confirmation documents for button cell batteries obtained from the competent authority by manufacturers or importers before June 30, 2026, shall lose their validity starting from July 1, 2026. However, this restriction shall not apply if their mercury content complies with the heavy metal content limits applicable from July 1, 2026, as specified in Attached Table 1 of Announcement Key Points II.
(III) Button cell batteries or goods attached with button cell batteries manufactured or imported before June 30, 2026, may still continue to be sold after July 1, 2026. |