Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

(a) the principal Regulations apply as from the date of coming into operation of these amending Regulations to -


(i) Batteries and accumulators put on the market as from 1st January 1999 containing more than 0.0005% of mercury by weight;

(ii) Batteries and accumulators put on the market as from 18th September 1992 and containing:


 -  more than 25mg of mercury per cell, except alkaline manganese batteries,

 -  more than 0.025% of cadmium by weight,

 -  more than 0.4% of lead by weight;



(iii) Alkaline manganese batteries containing more than 0.025% of mercury by weight placed on the market as from 18th September 1992; (regulation 3(3) of these Regulations, regulation 2A of the principal Regulations, implementing Article 1.2 of and the Annex to the amending Directive);



(b) a prohibited battery or accumulator means batteries and accumulators (whether incorporated into appliances or otherwise) containing more than 0.0005% of mercury by weight, other than button cells and batteries composed of button cells with a mercury content of no more than 2% by weight (regulation 3(4) of these Regulations, regulation 3(2) of the principal Regulations, implementing Article 1.1 of the amending Directive); and

(c) the maximum penalty for any offence under the principal Regulations is increased to level 5 on the standard scale (regulation 3(5) of these Regulations, regulation 7(1) of the principal Regulations). At the time of making these Regulations, level 5 stands at £5,000.

Copies of the Directive may be obtained from The Stationery Office Bookshop, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast BT1 4GD.