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Heavy Metal Index

Mercury Control Ordinance (Cap. 640), last updated 27 March 2026

Hong Kong Cap.

Hong Kong Cap. 640 implements the Minamata Convention on Mercury and regulates mercury chemicals, mercury-added products, and regulated manufacturing processes. Schedule 3 classifies cosmetics, including skin-lightening soap and cream, as regulated mercury-added products unless they fit narrow mercury-content exceptions. The routeable cosmetic values are the 1 ppm ceiling for unintentional trace mercury and the 70 ppm ceiling for eye-area cosmetics using mercury as a preservative where no safe substitute exists. The ordinance also prohibits export, import, manufacture, and supply of regulated mercury-added products except as allowed under the ordinance.

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