HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 18/5 

Adopted 11 March 1997 having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention 

MEASURES AIMED AT THE REDUCTION OF MERCURY POLLUTION RESULTING FROM LIGHT SOURCES AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

THE COMMISSION,

RECALLING that according to Article 6 of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1974 (Helsinki Convention), the Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to control and strictly limit pollution by noxious substances,

RECALLING ALSO that Annex II of the 1974 Helsinki Convention defines mercury as a noxious substance for the purposes of Article 6 of the Convention,

RECOGNIZING  the relative importance of light sources and electrical equipment as the source of pollution by mercury,

BEING MINDFUL of the pollution caused by emission of mercury resulting from used light sources and electrical equipment which jeopardise human life and marine biota,

RECOMMENDS  to the Governments of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention that:

a)       mercury-containing light sources should be substituted by energy-efficient mercury-free light sources by 2000 ( 2005 for the countries in transition) or as soon as technically feasible;

b)       where energy-efficient mercury-free alternatives are not available

(i)      light sources should be replaced as soon as possible with low-mercury-containing alternatives;

(ii)     measures should be taken to facilitate the organization of an effective collection and recovery system;

c)      mercury-containing electrical equipment should be substituted by mercury-free equipment;

d)      where alternative mercury-free equipment is not available

(i)      measures should be taken to minimize the use of mercury in such applications;

(ii)     measures should be taken to facilitate the organization of an effective collection and recovery system;

e)      development of mercury-free alternatives should be supported by ECO-labelling,

RECOMMENDS FURTHER that the action taken by Contracting Parties in accordance with this Recommendation should be reported to the Commission in 1999 and thereafter every 3 years,

DECIDES ALSO that the target limit values for mercury content in specific light sources referred to in paragraph b (i) should be considered in 1999.

REPORTING FORMAT FOR HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 18/5 CONCERNING MEASURES AIMED AT THE REDUCTION OF MERCURY POLLUTION RESULTING FROM LIGHT SOURCES AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

1.      Country:   .......................................

2.      Amounts of light sources sold in your country (in units per year)

type of light source   ....................................... units per year

fluorescent:   ...............................................................................................................

compact fluorescent:   ..................................................................................................

mercury vapour high pressure:   .....................................................................................

metal halide vapour:   ...................................................................................................

sodium vapour high pressure:  ........................................................................................

other types:   ..............................................................................................................

3.    Existing/planned national regulations or restrictions of mercury content in light sources and electrical equipment components

type of regulation or restriction .....................................................................................

obligatory from:   .........................................................................................................

limitations of mercury content in different types of light sources:

......................................................................................................................  mg/unit

restriction of use of mercury in specific electrical equipment components:

..................................................................................................................................

4.    Measures taken /planned to be taken  in order to limit mercury content in light sources referred to in paragraph b (i) of the Recommendation

type of measures: ........................................................................................................

achieved/expected results:.............................................................................................

time perspective: .........................................................................................................

problems: ...................................................................................................................

5.    Measures taken/planned to be taken in order to minimize the use of mercury in electrical equipment components

type of measures: ........................................................................................................

achieved/expected results: ............................................................................................

time perspective:   .......................................................................................................

problems: ....................................................................................................................

6.    Existing/planned measures to facilitate the organization of an effective collection and recovery system for electrical equipment containing components with mercury

type of measures:   ......................................................................................................

obligatory from: ...........................................................................................................

problems: ....................................................................................................................

7.    Existing/planned collection and/or recovery systems:.........................................................

 .................................................................................................................................

problems: ....................................................................................................................