The minamata convention on mercury is a multilateral environmental agreement that addresses the adverse effects of mercury through practical actions to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. Mercury is a heavy metal that is released from natural processes or human activities. Plenipotentiaries on the minamata convention on mercury held from 7 to 11 october 20. The minamata convention on mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin that affects human health and the environment. These forms and guidance, as adopted, are presented below. Pardee faculty fellow henrik selin international relations, bu gives an account and history of the minamata convention on mercury a global legally binding treaty on mercury use. Study on eu implementation of the minamata convention on mercury u. The minamata convention on mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds. The convention imposes implementation of measures to reduce atmospheric emissions according to batbet, etc.
Study on eu implementation of the minamata convention on. The minamata convention on mercury and the role for the environmental sciences community. Outlook\fim2wm85\draftfinalreporteuhgmc30june14rev3bmaster. Instead, mercury released into the environment accumulates in fish and animal tissues, a process known as bioaccumulation. Diplomatic conference held in kumamoto city and minamata city. Public health impacts of exposure to mercury and mercury. The third meeting of the conference of the parties to the minamata convention on mercury cop3 will take place from 25 to 29 november 2019 at the international conference centre in geneva, switzerland. The minamata convention on mercury convention is a major international development in controlling the harmful effects of mercury pollution. Minamata convention on mercury ministry for the environment. The convention draws attention to a global and ubiquitous metal. Any necessary exemptions to postpone phaseout dates in the convention will be recorded in new zealands ratification documents. Groundbreaking mercury treaty takes effect human rights.
The convention is named for a fishing village, in my home country of japan, which suffered tragically due to mercury contamination. Report of the foreign affairs, defence and trade committee new zealand parliament website new zealand is currently developing the domestic measures required to ratify the convention. This convention aims to protect the human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissionsreleases of mercury and mercury compounds and stipulates appropriate. Minamata is known worldwide due to minamata disease, a neurological disorder caused by mercury poisoning. The purpose of this document is to provide information to assist parties in reporting under article 21 of the minamata convention. Human activity, especially mining and the burning of coal, has increased the amounts of mercury in the atmosphere, soils, fresh waters, and oceans.
New york,24 september 2014 twentytwo countries have taken major steps to address the emissions and releases of the one of the most notorious heavy metals mercury. Minamata convention on mercury the parties to this convention, recognizing that mercury is a chemical of global concern owing to its longrange atmospheric transport, its persistence in the environment once anthropogenically introduced, its ability to. Agreed on 19 january 20, it was signed in october 20 by the eu and 91 countries, including new zealand, in minamata, japan. Minamata convention on mercury support measures portal. This convention was a result of three years of meeting and negotiating, after which the text of the convention was approved by delegates representing close to 140 countries on. Minamata convention on mercury department of agriculture. Unlimited viewing of the articlechapter pdf and any associated supplements and. The need for such a standard has been met with the implementation of the minamata convention on mercury.
World health assembly welcomed the adoption of the minamata convention on mercury, which. Minamata convention on mercury executive summary 1. In contrast to the limited publication policy when the full text of an agreement may not be reproduced in the unts in its entirety, the objective of applying the partial publication method to a particular situation is to speed up the publishing effort by e. In 2001 the united nations environment programme undertook a global assessment of mercury levels and their impacts. Convention by unep or the interim secretariat and does not substitute the original authentic. The wastewater contained methylmercury, which bioaccumulated in fish and shellfish in the bay. Minamata convention on mercury to enter into force unido. Until 2020, the convention will encourage signatory countries to gradually reduce their use of mercury. The 74 countries which have become parties to the convention so far out of 128 that have signed. The minamata convention on mercury is an opportunity for the global community to address this mounting problem before it gets worse. The minamata convention is named after the beautiful minamata city in japan, where local communities were poisoned by mercurytainted industrial wastewater in the late 1950s. The minamata convention on mercury in 2009, the united nations environment programme unep began a negotiating process that resulted in the minamata convention on mercury.
Minamata convention on mercury enters into force ens. Named the minamata convention on mercury, the agreement is a response to the realization that mercury pollution is a global problem that no one country can solve alone. Manufacturing processes phased out under the convention. Minamata convention on mercury international cooperation.
The minamata convention represents a major step forward to help the united states and other countries to reduce peoples exposure to mercury, a toxic chemical with significant negative health. Minamata convention on mercury was adopted at the conference of plenipotentiaries held in kumamoto city and minamata city in october, 20. Dental restorative materials and the minamata convention on mercury. The convention was four years in the making, with more than nations. In the minamata convention on mercury, parties commit to take full account of the specific needs and special circumstances of parties that are ldcs as well as sids and others in regard to. A year after the adoption of the minamata convention on mercury, ministers and senior government officials from around the world have renewed the international communitys commitment to. In the coming years, the gef will utilize its convening power to promote innovation in the design and scaling up of mercury programs to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening. It was agreed at the fifth session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee on mercury in geneva, switzerland at 7 a.
The tragic minamata bay disaster in japan is a stark reminder that exposure to the element mercury and its compounds can impact human health, causing irreversible neurological damage and other issues such as psychosis. The government of canada is working toward ratification of the minamata convention on mercury, a new global, legally binding treaty under the auspices of the united nations environment programme unep. Minamata convention on mercury ias abhiyan ii ias upsc. The minamata convention on mercury was opened for signature on 10 october 20 enetred into force on 16 august 2017 as of 24 august 2017, 128 countries have signed the convention and 74 have ratified it. Through the minamata convention on mercury, the global community remembers the many lives already lost to mercury poisoning and recognizes the. The dangers associated with mercury illustrate the necessity of international standard for dealing with its proliferation. At its first meeting, the conference of the parties to the minamata convention on mercury adopted forms and guidance to assist parties with its effective implementation. Minamata convention on mercury convention for those officials who may need information about the convention and its obligations, and about national activities which may be undertaken in preparation for convention ratification and implementation.
To ensure its accuracy and maximize its utility, a panel of experts identified in the. The united nations minamata convention on mercury, which went into effect on august 16, 2017, could benefit millions of people affected by toxic mercury, human rights watch said today. Director of communications, artisanal gold council agc first a little history. This manual is not meant to be a replacement for the original text of the convention. From 2020, the convention will ban the production, import and export of products that contain mercury, including blood pressure monitors, clinical thermometers, highpressure mercury lamps, and topical antiseptic agents. The objective of the convention is to protect human health and the environment from emissions and releases of mercury from human activity.
A global commitment to reduce health risks and environmental damage from mercury pollution came into effect last month 16 august, when the socalled minamata convention on mercury entered into force. India signed the minamata convention on 30 september 2014. Minamata, a film featuring the minamata disease, a debilitating illness caused by mercury poisoning, premieres at the berlin international film festival. An ngo introduction to mercury pollution and the minamata convention on mercury 5 1. At its 44th meeting in june 20, the gef council considered document gefc. Minamata convention nippon instruments corporation. The diagnosis and suffering continues to be repeated around the world. The minamata convention is named after the japanese city of minamata, which experienced a severe, decadeslong incidence of mercury poisoning after industrial wastewater from a chemical factory was discharged into minamata bay. New york, new york, august 16, 2017 ens the worlds first treaty to protect the environment and human health in nearly a decade, the minamata convention on mercury, enters into force today. Deposit your instrument by 27 august 2019 to be a party at cop3. Over the next decades, implementation of this international agreement will help reduce mercury pollution from the specific human activities responsible for the most significant mercury releases to the environment. Foreword this booklet provides information about the toxic environmental pollutant mercury and its harm to human health and the environment and the recently adopted minamata convention on mercury also referred to as the mercury treaty or the treaty.
Ratification and implementation manual page 34 minamata convention on mercury. The minamata convention on mercury is an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. This minamata convention on mercury ratification and implementation manual manual was coauthored by david lennett, senior attorney of the natural resources defense council nrdc and richard gutierrez, jd, ll. The minamata convention on mercury is named after minamata, a city in japan where serious health damage occurred as a result of mercury pollution in the mid20th century. The minamata convention on mercury is an international. Study on eu implementation of the minamata convention interim report c. The parties to this convention, recognizing that mercury is a chemical of global concern owing. Only relatively recently has serious global attention been paid to the many dangerous effects exposure to mercury can have on human and environmental health. Overview of the minamata convention on mercury 062015. The minamata conventions provisions for dental amalgama mercury added product containing. The convention was opened for signature by states and regional economic integration organizations at kumamoto, japan, on 10 and 11 october 20, and, thereafter, at the united nations headquarters in new york until 9 october 2014.
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