[2] Regulation (EU) 2017/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on mercury and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1102/2008, Article 10. [6] UN Environment has been actively engaged in bringing the science of mercury poisoning to policy implementation. "The Republic of India, in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 30 of the Minamata Convention on Mercury declares that any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the Republic of India only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto. To cite this article: THIRION Sophie (2020), The Minamata Convention on Mercury, Encyclopedia of the Environment, [online ISSN 2555-0950] url : https://www.encyclopedie-environnement.org/en/society/the-minamata-convention-on-mercury/. How are people exposed? The Minamata Convention is named after the place in Japan where, in the mid-20th century, mercury-tainted industrial wastewater poisoned thousands of people, leading to crippling symptoms that became known as the “Minamata disease”. The treaty also addresses the direct mining of mercury, its export and import, its safe storage and its disposal once as waste. A correlation between the level of air pollution and the number of COVID-19 cases does not come as a surprise (WEF, 2020). It prohibits parties to allow mercury mining that was not being conducted prior to the date of entry into force of the Convention for them, and it only allows mercury mining that was conducted at the date of entry into force for up to fifteen years after that date. The Minamata Convention incorporates rules on all aspects identified as part of the mercury life cycle. Currently, it is mostly utilised in industrial processes that produce chlorine (mercury chlor-alkali plants) or vinyl chloride monomer for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production, and polyurethane elastomers. The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercuryand mercury compounds. Sometimes, during negotiations, States do not agree on directly binding measures. It is also used in laboratories, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, including in vaccines as a preservative, paints, and jewellery. Victims may suffer memory loss or language impairment, and the damage to the brain cannot be reversed. Each state should within three years after of date of entry into force of the Convention identify the relevant point source categories of releases of mercury into land and water. The year 2020 is a milestone for the Convention – it is when parties are required to cease the manufacture, import and export of many mercury-containing products listed in the Convention. The same is true for some industrial processes that use mercury. The work required to write a text on which more than a hundred States agree is a real feat. An intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) was promptly established, through which countries negotiated and developed the text of the convention. The process that led to the signature of this text is typical of that of other conventions dealing with environmental protection. In February 2009, the Governing Council of UNEP decided to develop a global legally binding instrument on mercury.[7]. Mercury may also be a by product of raw material refining or production processes, such as oil and gas refining and non-ferrous metal production. It is the only common metal, which is liquid at ordinary temperature, it has high density and amalgamates easily with many metals, such as gold, silver, and tin. Fragmentation between the Minamata Convention and other rules of international law, “The Fonds pour l’Environnement Mondial, FEM”. The Convention is named after Minamata Bay in Japan to remember the lessons of the tragic health damage by industrial mercury pollution in the 1950s and 1960s. Countries that have ratified the Convention agree to implement these controls and are legally bound to do so under international law. Deals with the question of artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing in which mercury amalgamation is used to extract gold from ore. Each Party that has small-scale gold mining and processing within its territory has the general obligation to take steps to reduce the use of mercury and mercury compounds in such mining and processing needs to reduce, and where feasible eliminate, the use of mercury and mercury compounds in mining and processing, as well as the emissions and releases to the environment of mercury from such activities. This action programme has promoted immediate action by governments, the private sector and international organizations to minimize the risks posed by mercury in products and production processes. Following several years of negotiations by an international committee, the text of the Minamata Convention was officially adopted and opened for signature in 2013. An official website of the United States government. There were five meetings of the INC during which States discussed amending the basic text and reaching consensus. Contributions could be made in different form such as in cash or acts like hosting of a meeting directly related to the negotiations process. Ratification will then be considered by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties before a final decision is made by the Australian Government. Addresses the releases of mercury and mercury compounds to land and water. Three different types of awards, gold, silver and bronze, were presented and established "according to the level of contributions received in the time period between the 25th session of the UNEP Governing Council, where the decision to convene negotiations was taken, and the sixth session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee. Deals with mercury wastes, including their definition, their management in an environmentally sound manner and transportation across international boundaries. The following States are at present Members of the European Union: the Kingdom of Belgium, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Estonia, Ireland, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Republic of Croatia, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Poland, the Portuguese Republic, Romania, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The year 2020 is a milestone for the Convention – it is when parties are required to cease the manufacture, import and export of many mercury-containing products listed in the Convention. Under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, developed country Parties (Annex II Parties) provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties for implementing the Convention. UN Member States meet within UNEP, now also known as the “UN Environment”, to take programmatic decisions on global environmental protection. Minamata Convention on Mercury", "Minamata Convention on Mercury Aims #MakeMercuryHistory", "Minamata disease sufferer pins hope on mercury ban treaty", "The Minamata Convention on Mercury: A First Step toward Protecting Future Generations", "First Meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Prepare a Global Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury", "Summary of the Second Meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Prepare a Global Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury", "Summary of the Third Meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Prepare a Global Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury", "Summary of the Fourth Meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Prepare a Global Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury", "Summary of the Fifth Meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Prepare a Global Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury", "Diplomatic Conference for the Minamata Convention on Mercury", "Kumamoto launches Minamata Convention to regulate use of mercury", "Global Convention on Phaseout of Mercury Set to Be Adopted in Japan in October", "Minamata Diplomatic Conference Highlights", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Minamata_Convention_on_Mercury&oldid=986324158, Treaties of the People's Republic of China, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish. Armenia. This decision provided what is known as a negotiating mandate. Figure 1. The Budapest Declaration on Mercury, Lead and Cadmium, 2.5. Life cycle refers to all stages during which mercury is released into the environment. For so many States to agree to engage and be bound at the global level, many steps have been taken to finally reach a consensus on how to manage the problem. Control mercury air emissions from coal-fired power plants, coal-fired industrial boilers, certain non-ferrous metals production operations, waste incineration and cement production. Mercury emissions can be controlled by a wide range of technologies and best practices, including many which reduce other air pollutants at the same time. Finally, the Convention obliges Parties, if they find that artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities are significant in their territory, to develop and implement a national action plan to remedy this situation [16]. An action plan is drafted to indicate to the State precisely what actions it must take, in the more or less long term, to comply with the Convention with an indicative budget. Relates to research, development and monitoring. Sets out measures either to phase out or to restrict such existing processes. ", "The United States hereby declares, pursuant to Article 30, paragraph 5, that any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the United States only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession with respect thereto. The main industries in and around Huolin Gol (coal, energy and chemicals) have polluted the grasslands to such an extent that herds can no longer graze on them. Pursuant to article 30 (5) of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Argentinian Republic declares that any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force with respect of Argentina only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification or accession with respect thereto. The Federal Republic of Germany declares, in accordance with article 30, paragraph 5, of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, that any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the Federal Republic of Germany only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession with respect thereto. Deals with the settlement of disputes between Parties. Over time, international law has had to adapt to modernity. The Minamata Convention Parties work to reduce, and where feasible eliminate, the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, without pushing the often-informal sector underground. The Marshall Islands, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia and Uganda have deposited their instruments of ratification or accession … - Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and the Council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment "Declaration under article 30 (5) The primary aim of the Convention is “to protect human health and the environment” from mercury releases, which are considered both environmental and health hazards, according to the United Nations. Relates to the question of financial resources and mechanism. The preamble recalls the lessons of the Minamata disease, in particular the serious safety and environmental effects resulting from mercury pollution and the need to ensure proper management of mercury and the prevention of such events in the future. In order to adopt the text of a treaty at an international conference, the consent of all States that participated in its drafting is required [5]. [1] For a detailed study on the polluting nature of mercury, the history of mercury pollution, Minamata disease and the state of mercury use in human activities today, see the article by Vincent DANEL, Mercury, fish and gold miners, Encyclopedia of the Environment. Declaration: Any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the Republic of Armenia only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession in respect thereto. Parkes ACT 2600 (Source: National Research Council. [16] Article 7 of the Minamata Convention. The problem of mercury-contaminated sites was also of concern to the negotiators, who did not, however, impose a deadline in the Convention for the clean-up of these sites. In total, the Convention has 128 signatories. - protecting human health; All these rules have emerged without first being ordered among themselves. Progress since COP1 We can also mention the field of international investments, which is taking on an increasing importance today. Existing mining activities can continue, but only for a limited period of fifteen years [8]. Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Threatened species & ecological communities, Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), Environment protection publications and resources, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. There are possibilities for derogations. What’s mercury in? The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty intended to protect people and the environment from the harm caused by exposure to mercury. Signed by: 128 countries; Ratified by 101 countries (as of Jan 25, 2019) Objective and Characteristics of the Convention The Convention is named after the Japanese city Minamata. Phone: (+93) 706679101 Albania. A State or regional economic integration organization can register for one or more exemptions from the phase out dates listed in Parts I of Annexes A and B. Deals with the ratification, acceptance, approval of the Convention or accession thereto. The Convention entered into force in 2017, and the first Conference of the Parties (COP1) Exit took place September 24 - 29, 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to signing, the United States deposited its Instrument of Acceptance to become a party to the Convention. In this case, it is preceded by a “first assessment”, now called the “Initial Assessment of the Minamata Convention”. The major highlights of the Convention on Mercury include; a ban on new mercury mines, the phase-out of existing ones, control measures on air emissions, and the international regulation of the informal sector for artisanal and small-scale gold mining. These activities take place in a globalized world, making efforts to reduce the risks of mercury to the environment and human health all the more complex. For this reason, an environmental convention must be a dynamic instrument, capable of evolving, for example, in response to the discovery of alternatives to a toxic substance or new hazards presented by that substance. If the texts contradict each other, which is possible, there is no other rule to say which convention should take precedence over the other. Aid measures for developing countries, 5. Amendments to the Convention may be proposed by any Party, and they must be adopted at a meeting of the Conference of the Parties. "Consistent with its principal policy of protecting and promoting the environment and human health, the Islamic Republic of Iran has ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Angola. Drawing up a declaration makes it possible to bring States together at a negotiating table and start exchanging views, to see what they agree to do, to identify areas where they are more cautious. The Conference of the Parties needs to evaluate the effectiveness of the Convention no later than six years after the date of entry into force and periodically thereafter. ", ".. any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force only upon the deposit of [the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand's] instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession in accordance with Article 30 paragraph 5. In 1972, delegates to the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment witnessed Japanese junior high school student Shinobu Sakamoto, disabled as the result of methylmercury poisoning in utero. This new piece of international law entered into force on 16 August 2017 and it already has 123 Parties, with new countries joining all the time. The Minamata Convention on Mercury, ready for signature [Source: © Photo by IISD/ENB – Kiara Worth]Negotiations on the Minamata Convention officially began with the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), mandated by the Diplomatic Conference, which took place from 7 to 11 June 2010 in Stockholm. The Minamata Convention and the rest of international law, 5.1. Environmental law » As is often the case in international environmental law, the drafting of the Convention will be preceded by the publication of a scientific report, which warns of the dangers posed by an environmental phenomenon, in this case mercurial pollution. In addition, the Convention addresses the supply and trade of mercury; safer storage and disposal, and strategies to address contaminated sites. EU) The Minamata Convention on Mercury will come into effect 90 days later once 50 countries have ratified the convention. Yet they have made a commitment. The INC held five sessions to discuss and negotiate a global agreement on mercury: On 19 January 2013, after negotiating late into the night, the negotiations concluded with close to 140 governments agreeing to the draft convention text. We are working to protect our agriculture and food industries, supply chains and environment during the COVID-19 outbreak. Names The Secretary-General of the United Nations as the Depositary of this Convention. See our advice and support. Sets the rules for adoption and amendment of annexes. Canberra ACT 2601 In 2018, the United Nations High-level Meeting on non-communicable diseases included air pollution as a fifth risk factor. Building back better is also about creating a world where people can live in good health for generations to come. NEXT: Thursday, 5 Nov: Mercury emissions: Estimation and projection - prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources; The Minamata Convention was named in memory of the victims of this industrial disaster (Figure 2). Parties shall include in their reporting the information called for in the different articles of the Convention. [17] Article 12 of the Minamata Convention. Around 150 countries participated in the second Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP2) in Geneva, Switzerland, from 19-23 November. These include controls on mercury mining, manufacture and trade of mercury and mercury-containing products, disposal of mercury waste and emissions of mercury from industrial facilities.
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