Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-24.9-8. Labeling required for certain products

(a) Mercury-added products.  (1) Effective January 1, 2006, a manufacturer may not sell at retail in this state or to a retailer in this state, and a retailer may not knowingly sell, a mercury-added product unless the item is labeled pursuant to this subsection.  The label must clearly inform the purchaser or consumer that mercury is present in the item and that the item may not be disposed of or placed in waste stream destined for disposal until the mercury is removed or reused, recycled or otherwise managed to ensure that it does not become part of solid waste or wastewater.  Manufacturers shall affix to mercury-added products labels that conform to the requirements of this subsection.

(2) The department shall adopt rules to establish standards for affixing labels to the product and product package.  The rules shall be consistent with labeling programs in other states and provide for approval of alternative compliance plans by the department.  The manufacturer of a mercury-added product is in compliance with the requirements of this subsection if the manufacturer is in compliance with the labeling requirements of another state.  This subsection does not apply to mercury-added button cell batteries and products whose only mercury component is a mercury button cell battery or a mercury added lamp.

(b) Mercury-added lamps:  large use applications.  (1) A person who sells mercury-added lamps to the owner or manager of an industrial, commercial or office building or to any person who replaces or removes from service outdoor lamps that contain mercury shall clearly inform the purchaser in writing on the invoice for the lamps or in a separate document that the lamps contain mercury, a hazardous substance that is regulated by federal and state law, and that they may not be placed in solid waste destined for disposal.  Retail establishments that incidentally sell mercury-added lamps to the specified purchasers are exempt from the requirements of this subsection.

(2) A person who contracts with the owner or manager of an industrial, commercial or office building or with a person responsible for outdoor lighting to remove from service mercury-added lamps shall clearly inform in writing the person for whom the work is being done that the lamps being removed from service contain mercury and what the contractor's arrangements are for the management of the mercury in the removed lamps.