Vol. 404 No. 1
180 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment the quantities of alkaline manganese batteries, containing more than 0.025 per cent of mercury which are used in Ireland each year; and the arrangements which are being made to ban these batteries by 1 January 1993.
Annual quantities of alkaline manganese used in Ireland are reliably indicated by the annual imports of these products. According to information supplied by the Central Statistics Office, annual imports of alkaline manganese primary cells/primary batteries amounted in 1989 to 539 tonnes. Statistical information regarding the mercury content of batteries is not available.
A draft EC directive on batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances is awaiting final adoption. Subject to certain exceptions, the draft directive includes a prohibition, from 1 January 1993, on the marketing of alkaline manganese batteries containing more than 0.025 per cent of mercury by weight.
Specific arrangements for implementing this proposed directive are being considered.
