(a) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, on and after July 1, 2004, no person shall offer for sale or distribute for promotional purposes any mercury-added product unless both the product and either its packaging or care and use manual are labeled in accordance with this section, any regulations adopted under this section or the terms of any approved alternative labeling or notification granted under subsection (h) of this section. A retailer shall not be found in violation of this subsection if the retailer lacked knowledge that the product contained mercury.

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(b) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, if a mercury-added product is a component of another product, the product containing the component and the component shall both be labeled as provided in this section, provided such component may feasibly be removed from the product by the purchaser. The label on a product containing a mercury-added component that can be feasibly removed shall identify the component with sufficient detail so that the component may be readily located for removal.

(c) All labels contained on packaging shall be clearly visible prior to sale and all labels required on the product packaging or in the care and use manual shall be sufficient to inform the purchaser, using words or symbols, that mercury is present in the product and that the product should be properly disposed of or recycled in accordance with the hazardous waste provisions of this title.

(d) Labels affixed to the product shall be constructed of materials that are sufficiently durable to remain legible for the useful life of the product.

(e) On and after July 1, 2004, any person offering a mercury-added product for sale through a catalog, or distributing such product for promotional purposes shall clearly advise in writing the purchaser or recipient prior to the time of sale or distribution that the product contains mercury. On and after July 1, 2004, any person offering a mercury-added product for sale by telephone shall clearly advise the purchaser or recipient prior to the time of sale that the product contains mercury. Such requirements shall apply to such transactions in which the purchaser or recipient is unable to view the labels on the package or the product prior to purchase or receipt.

(f) The manufacturer of a product shall be responsible for product and package labels required under this section, unless the wholesaler or retailer agrees in writing to accept the responsibility of implementing an alternative to the labeling requirements of this section provided such alternative is approved under subsection (h) of this section.

(g) (1) Manufacturers shall meet all the requirements of this section for large appliances, including, but not limited to, washers, dryers, ovens, including microwave ovens, refrigerators, air conditioners, dehumidifiers or portable heaters sold in a store where such appliances are on display, except that no package labeling shall be required; (2) manufacturers shall meet all the requirements of this section for mercury fever thermometers, except that no product labeling shall be required; (3) in the case of vehicles, (A) manufacturers shall meet the product labeling requirements of this section for vehicles by placing a label on the doorpost of the vehicles that lists the mercury-added components that may be present in the vehicle, and (B) manufacturers shall not be required to label the mercury-added components of the vehicle; (4) manufacturers of products that contain a mercury-containing lamp used for backlighting that cannot feasibly be removed by the purchaser shall meet the product labeling requirements of this section by placing the label on the product or its care and use manual; (5) manufacturers shall meet all the requirements of this section for button cell batteries containing mercury, except that no labeling shall be required; (6) in the case of products that contain button cell batteries containing mercury as the only mercury components, manufacturers shall meet the packaging requirements of this section by including a label in the product instructions, if any, and on the packaging, and no further product labeling shall be required; (7) manufacturers of fluorescent lights and high-intensity discharge lamps shall meet the labeling requirements of this section by labeling the product packaging and placing the symbol “Hg” on each lamp; (8) manufacturers of medical equipment not intended for use by nonmedical personnel are exempt from this section; and (9) manufacturers shall meet this requirement for luminaires not sold through retail sales channels by providing information on their web sites and in catalogs.

(h) (1) A manufacturer may apply to the commissioner and the regional multistate clearinghouse described in section 22a-614 for an alternative to the requirements of subsections (a) to (g), inclusive, of this section if: (A) Compliance with the requirements is not feasible; (B) the proposed alternative would be at least as effective in providing presale notification of mercury content and in providing instructions on proper disposal; or (C) federal law preempts state authority over labeling.

(2) The commissioner may approve, deny, modify or condition a request for an alternative to the requirements of subsections (a) to (g), inclusive, of this section. An approval shall be for a period of no more than two years and may, upon continued eligibility under the criteria of this section and compliance with the conditions of its prior approval, be renewed. Requests for renewals shall be submitted ninety days before the expiration of the approval. Prior to approving an alternative, the commissioner shall consult with states, Canadian provinces and regional government organizations to insure that the commissioner’s labeling requirements are consistent with those of other jurisdictions in the region. The commissioner may revoke an approval for cause.

(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a person who sells mercury-added lamps to the owner or manager of any 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 the solid waste destined for disposal. Retail establishments that incidentally sell mercury-added lamps to purchasers are exempt from the requirements of this subsection. 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.