New products with added mercury included in Annex II, Part A of Regulation (EU) 2017/852

On 20 March 2026, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/55 entered into force. The Regulation, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 17 March 2026, amends Annex II, Part A of Regulation (EU) 2017/852 on mercury by updating the list of mercury‑added products that are subject to manufacturing, import, and export bans.

The amendment introduces a new entry in Annex II, Part A, concerning:

“High‑accuracy capacitance and loss measurement bridges and high‑frequency RF switches and relays in monitoring and control instruments (maximum mercury content of 20 mg of mercury per bridge, switch or relay), except those used for research and development purposes.”

For these products, the Regulation establishes a ban on manufacturing, import, and export as of 31 December 2025, making the provision retroactive with respect to the Regulation’s own entry into force.

This regulatory update forms part of the broader process of aligning EU legislation with Decision MC‑5/4, adopted during the fifth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP‑5) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, held from 30 October to 3 November 2023, which expanded the international list of mercury‑containing products targeted for phase‑out.

With this amendment, the European Union further strengthens its commitment to the progressive elimination of mercury, ensuring consistency with international developments. Normachem remains at your disposal to support you in assessing the applicability of these provisions to your products and to assist you in a comprehensive regulatory compliance analysis.