The EU Will Further Prohibit Mercury and Cadmium Battery

On October 10, 2013, the European Parliament approved the update of EU battery directive 2006/66/EC.

From the autumn of 2015, the EU will prohibit the use of mercury button batteries. Simultaneously, from December 31, 2016, the cadmium-bearing portable batteries and accumulators will be prohibited in cordless power tools. After the new order taking effect, nickel-cadmium batteries will only be allowed in the emergency alarm system (e.g., emergency lights) and medical devices. In addition, the relevant batteries and accumulators should be allow to be sold out of existing inventory.

Currently, the EU battery directive 2006/66/EC requires that in the batteries and accumulators for all EU markets, the limited value of mercury content can not be more than 0.0005% (2% for button batteries) and cadmium content can not exceed 0.002%.