Button Cell Battery Legislation: Mercury-free

Three states, Maine, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, all had passed, or were in the process of passing, legislation that would put an end to the distribution of mercury-added button cell batteries.  The bills were all scheduled to go into force on or about July 1, 2011.

However, due to the disaster in Japan, supply of mercury-free button cell batteries was substantially disrupted.  Avon and FJATA worked together to delay these effective bans giving industry a wider latitude to offer product.  As per our united requests, Connecticut first adopted a one-year delay in the effective date of the measure.  Maine then responded in similar fashion, allowing a 6-month extension.  Finally, the Rhode Island legislature approved a similar 6-month extension.

Legislative Specifics:

Connecticut called amendment 5305 to its SB 1111: “(2) silver oxide batteries and any product containing silver oxide batteries may be offered for sale or distributed for promotional purposes until July 1, 2012.”  This exclusion is from what would otherwise have been a July 1, 2011 ban on mercury-added button cell batteries.

In Maine, LD 1398 (HP 1027) amends Section 23 of 38 MRSA 1661-C, sub-9, as amended by PL 2009, c. 501, 22, to read: “After June 30 December 31, 2011, a person may not sell or offer to sell or distribute for promotional purposes a mercury-added button cell battery identified in this paragraph or a product that contains a mercury-added button cell battery”.  The scope of the delayed ban includes (1) zinc-air button cell batteries, (2) alkaline-manganese button cell batteries, and (3) silver oxide button cell batteries with designations 357, 364, 371, 377, 395, SR44W, SR621SW, SR626SW, SR920SW or SR927SW and interchangeable substitutes for such designations.

Rhode Island SB 1042/HB 6241 specifies: “Button cell batteries. – After June 30, 2011 a person may not sell or offer to sell or distribute for promotional purposes a mercury-added cell battery for consumer use or a product for consumer use that contains a mercury-added button cell battery, except Hg-silver oxide batteries may be offered for sale or distributed for promotional purposes until January 1, 2012.”

Links:

CT SB 1111 Amendment 5305 Text