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Tariff Measures for Mercury Export Controls:
At the request of the Environment Agency, tariff measures enforcing the export prohibition of mercury and goods containing mercury, are being updated from 1st February 2025 in the UK Trade Tariff. The existing EU document codes for claiming exemptions from the prohibition are being replaced by national document codes, but will remain for use on Northern Ireland declarations. Goods which do not contain mercury, will still have to complete the appropriate document code to satisfy the tariff measure on the commodity code.
The new document codes are –
9Y14 - Goods which do not contain mercury
921Y - Non-electronic measuring devices installed in large-scale equipment or those used for high precision measurement where no suitable mercury-free alternative is available under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2017/852 as retained in UK law.
922Y - Measuring devices more than 50 years old on 3 October 2007 under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2017/852 as retained in UK law.
923Y - Measuring devices which are to be displayed in public exhibitions for cultural and historical purposes under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2017/852 as retained in UK law.
924Y - For the purposes of laboratory-scale research or laboratory analysis under Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2017/852 as retained in UK law.
925Y - Essential for civil protection and military uses under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2017/852 as retained in UK law.
926Y - For research, for calibration of instrumentation, or for use as a reference standard under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2017/852 as retained in UK law.
The expectation is that the majority of exported goods will not contain mercury and will therefore qualify to use 9Y14. The remaining document codes will only be required for goods which do contain mercury and need to declare how they qualify for an exemption from the prohibition on the export of mercury.
As of 24th January 2025, the UK tariff measures for 1st February 2025 have been updated to include the new codes other than 9Y14.
Pre-lodged Declarations
Declarations pre-lodged in January which are expected to arrive after 31st January 2025 should be declared with both the new and existing waiver document codes in order to avoid the declaration being rejected on arrival.
Northern Ireland Exports
Export declarations in Northern Ireland will need to include both the existing code (Y924, Y925 or Y969) to satisfy the EU tariff measures and one of the new document codes to satisfy the UK tariff measures.
Note: Use of the waiver document codes represents a legal declaration that the consignment complies with the terms of the waiver being claimed. Mercury, and goods containing mercury, which do not meet the terms of any permitted waivers, must not be exported.
More information
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