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Mercury Ordinances/Resolutions
Health Care Without Harm promotes the passing of ordinances and resolutions banning the manufacture, sale, and distribution of mercury-containing devices. Such legislation supports mercury elimination practices already in place all over the country, from local mercury fever thermometer exchanges to major health care institutions’ efforts to replace their mercury-containing devices with effective and safer alternatives.
 State Laws
Local Ordinances
Resolutions
State Laws
| June 10, 2003 |
Illinois |
State law (Public Act 93-0165) that bans the manufacture, sale and distribution of mercury fever thermometers and mercury-added novelty items after July 1, 2004. |
| May 20, 2003 |
Maine |
State law (LD 1159) (pdf) that prohibits the sale of mercury in switches, measuring devices (including sphygmomanometers), instruments and thermostats with an effective date of July 1, 2006. |
| May 19, 2003 |
Washington |
State law (House Bill 1002) that requires the labeling of florescent lamps that contain mercury. Prohibits the sale of mercury-containing items in products such as thermometers, motor vehicles, and thermostats after January 2006. Directs the Department of Ecology to develop and implement a state plan for a permanent mercury repository. Orders the Department of Health to develop an education plan for mercury disposal. Charges schools to find a way to get rid of existing mercury. Sphygmomanometers may not be sold with the exception of a hospital of healthcare facility with a mercury reduction plan in place. |
| October 3, 2002 |
Michigan |
State law (House Bill 4599) (pdf) that bans the sale of mercury thermometers. |
| June 3, 2002 |
Connecticut |
State law (House Bill 5539) that bans the sale and distribution of mercury fever thermometers after January 1, 2003 and places restrictions on the sale of other mercury-containing equipment. |
| February 25, 2002 |
Massachusetts |
State law (House Bill 3772) that bans the sale of mercury fever thermometers. |
| October 10, 2001 |
California |
State law (SB 633) that restricts the use and distribution of mercury fever thermometers; places controls on the disposal of appliances and vehicle components containing mercury; and bans the addition of mercury to novelties and clothing articles, the sale of a car that contains a mercury vehicle switch and the use of mercury-containing items from use in schools, except for measuring devices. |
| August 8, 2001 |
Oregon |
State law (HB 3007) that phases out mercury thermostats and prohibits the sale of fever thermometers, novelty products and automotive light switches with mercury |
| July 13, 2001 |
Rhode Island |
State law (S 0153) that prohibits the sale or distribution of mercury fever thermometers in the state |
| June 8, 2001 |
Maine |
State law (LD 1665) that requires manufacturers of formulated products to disclose mercury content, prohibits hospitals from supplying mercury fever thermometers, bans retail sales of mercury fever thermometers and bans sales of mercury dairy manometers and mercury to schools |
| May 18, 2001 |
Maryland |
State law (HB 75) that prohibits the sale of mercury fever thermometers in the state and prohibits primary or secondary schools from using elemental or chemical mercury |
| May 10, 2001 |
Indiana |
State law (HB 1901) that limits the circumstances under which a mercury fever thermometers may be sold, prohibits the sale and distribution of most mercury-added novelties and restricts schools from using mercury |
| April 26, 2001 |
Minnesota |
State law (SF 70, HF 274) that prohibits the sale or distribution of mercury thermometers |
| June 20, 2000 |
New Hampshire |
State law (HB 1418) that prohibits the sale of certain mercury-added products; establishes notification and disclosure requirements for permissible mercury-containing products; establishes limitations on the use of elemental mercury; etc. |
Local Ordinances
| September 22, 2002 |
Duluth, MN |
Ordinance (pdf) banning the sale of mercury-containing medical equipment and the purchase of mercury thermostats and mercury-containing products in K-12 schools |
| October 18, 2001 |
Douglas County, WI |
Ordinance banning sale of mercury fever or basal thermometers |
| October 10, 2001 |
Livonia, MI |
Ordinance banning retail sale, manufacture and importation of mercury thermometers |
| October 9, 2001 |
Westchester County, NY |
Ordinance banning the use of mercury gauges or manometers for the testing of gas pressure and the sale of mercury fever thermometers |
| July 25, 2001 |
Chicago, IL |
Ordinance banning sale and manufacture of mercury fever thermometers |
| June 20, 2001 |
Suffolk County, NY |
Ordinance banning sale of mercury fever thermometers |
| May 8, 2001 |
Worcester, MA |
Ordinance banning retail sale, manufacture and importation of mercury fever thermometers |
| April 25, 2001 |
Natick, MA |
Ordinance banning retail sale, manufacture and importation of mercury thermometers |
| March 31, 2001 |
Cohasset, MA |
Ordinance banning retail sale, manufacture and importation of mercury thermometers |
| March 27, 2001 |
Haverhill, MA |
Ordinance banning retail sale, manufacture and importation of mercury thermometers |
| March 22, 2001 |
Racine, WI |
Ordinance banning the sale of mercury thermometers |
| January 16, 2001 |
Freeport, ME |
Ordinance banning retail sale, manufacturing and importation of mercury fever thermometers |
| December 4, 2000 |
Fergus Falls, MN |
Ordinance banning retail sales of mercury fever and basal thermometers |
| November 11, 2000 |
Boston, MA |
Ordinance banning manufacture, import and retail sales of mercury fever thermometers |
| October 10, 2000 |
Stoughton, WI |
Ordinance banning retail sale of mercury fever or basal thermometers |
| September 5, 2000 |
DeForest, WI |
Ordinance banning retail sale of mercury fever or basal thermometers |
| July 12, 2000 |
Dane County, WI |
Ordinance banning retail sale of mercury fever or basal thermometers |
| July 10, 2000 |
Ann Arbor, MI |
Ordinance banning manufacture, import and retail sales of mercury fever thermometers |
| May 9, 2000 |
San Francisco, CA |
Ordinance banning manufacture, import and retail sales of mercury fever thermometers |
| March 6, 2000 |
Duluth, Minnesota |
Ordinance banning retail sale of mercury fever thermometers |
Resolutions
| April 12, 2003 |
Illinois State Medical Society |
Resolution (pdf) on eliminating the medical sources of childhood methylmercury exposure |
| June, 2002 |
Washington Academy of Family Physicians |
Resolution supporting efforts to prevent human and environmental mercury exposure and harm, including the phase out by hospitals and physicians of the use of mercury-containing products where alternatives are possible |
| July, 2001 |
American Academy of Pediatrics |
Policy Statement on how pediatricians can contribute to decreasing the amount of mercury in the waste stream |
| June 15, 2001 |
Wisconsin Public Health Association |
Resolution supporting a state-wide ban on the sale of home-use mercury thermometers |
| December 1992, renewed 2000 |
American Medical Association |
Resolution to eliminate mercury and other toxins from consumer products |
| November, 2000 |
Massachusetts Medical Society |
Resolution on mercury and waste disposal |
| March 14, 2000 |
California Medical Association |
Resolution preventing human mercury exposure |
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