On December 31, 1997, China Light Industry Association, The state economic and trade commission, Domestic Trade Department, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the State Environmental Protection Agency, the General Administration of Customs, the State Bureau of Technical Supervision, the State Import and Export Commodity Inspection Bureau jointly issued regulations on the restriction of mercury batteries. “Regulations” requires all battery production, import and sales units and individuals should strengthen the prevention and control of mercury pollution of battery products, protect and improve the living environment and ecological environment, and implemented with immediate effect.

According to the actual situation of China's battery industry, the work of limiting mercury content in the battery products to be implemented step by step, first of all to achieve a low-mercury, ultimately achieve mercury-free requirements. The meaning of "low mercury" is mercury content less than 0.025% of the weight of the battery; the meaning of "mercury-free" is mercury content less than 0.0001% of the weight of the battery. The regulations clearly stated that from January 1, 2001, banning the production of batteries which mercury content greater than 0.025% of the weight of the battery on domestic. Since January 1, 2001, batteries (including battery supporting electrical appliances) unlabeled mercury content (such as: marked "low mercury" or "mercury-free") are not allowed to enter the domestic market for sell. Since January 1, 2002, banning the distribution of mercury is greater than 0.025% of the weight of the battery on domestic; from January 1, 2005, banning the production of alkaline zinc-manganese batteries which mercury content greater than 0.0001% of the weight on domestic; from January 1, 2006, prohibiting to sale alkaline zinc-manganese batteries which mercury content greater than 0.0001% of the weight of the battery on domestic.

The “regulations” require that in our country new battery factory (including joint ventures, cooperative and foreign-owned enterprises) and the new introduction battery production line must be approved in accordance with the relevant provisions. For the collection and processing of waste batteries, all departments concerned should work together, actively create conditions, adopted a variety of ways (such as waste classification and collection, trade-in when sales). At the same time, we need to step up publicity efforts to raise people's awareness of environmental protection. To encourage the company who engaged in the processing of waste batteries, countries will give the tilted support on the policy and funding, and enjoy the preferential policies of the comprehensive utilization on national resources.

“GB24427-2009 Limitation of mercury, cadmium and lead contents for alkaline and non-alkaline zinc manganese dioxide batteries” limits in the zinc-manganese battery requirements as follows:

“GB24428-2009 Limitation of mercury content for zinc silver oxide, zinc oxygen and manganese dioxide button batteries” limits in the button battery requirements as follows: