HC Deb 22 February 1994 vol 238 cc175-6W
Mr. Bates

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Government will introduce regulations to implement the batteries directives.

Mr. McLoughlin

The Batteries and Accumulators (Containing Dangerous Substances) Regulations 1994—SI 1994/232—have been made and were laid in the House on 7 February 1994. They are now available from HMSO. These regulations relate to primary and secondary batteries which contain specified amounts of lead, mercury or cadmium, and implement certain provisions in directives 91/157/EEC and 93/86/EEC. Regulations, which prohibit the marketing of certain alkaline manganese batteries with specified mercury levels, and which relate to the design of certain kinds of appliances so that the battery or accumulator can be readily removed, are due to come into force in Britain on 1 March 1994. The regulation appertaining to the marking of the relevant batteries or accumulators is due to come into force on 1 August 1994. A consultation paper on these regulations was issued in October 1993—DTI press notice P/93/617.