Chemical Legislation in Louisiana

Mercury Risk Reduction Act

Effective July 1, 2007, mercury-added novelties may not be offered for final sale or use or distributed for promotional purposes in Louisiana. 

Effective July 1, 2010, mercury-added products may not be offered for final sale or use or distributed for promotional purposes in Louisiana if the mercury content of the product exceeds 100 milligrams for fabricated products or 50 ppm for formulated products. Effective July 1, 2012, these limits decrease to 10 milligrams and 10 ppm, respectively. Mercury-added products are defined as products, commodities, or chemicals that contain mercury, or contain a component that contains mercury that is intentionally added to provide a specific characteristic, appearance or quality, or to perform a specific function. Mercury-added products with less than the prohibited limit may not be offered for final sale or use or distributed for promotional purposes in Louisiana without prior written notification to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. Both the product and its packaging must be labeled. Manufacturers must also submit plans for a convenient and accessible collection system for mercury-added products containing more than 10 milligrams of mercury. 

Fluorescent lamps are exempt from the concentration prohibitions until July 1, 2014, at which time the mercury content of fluorescent bulbs must either not exceed 10 milligrams or the manufacturer must apply to the Department of Environmental Quality for an exemption.