The Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention adopted a number of decisions to promote global mercury pollution control

At the recently concluded fifth Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (referred to as the Minamata Convention), participating parties adopted a number of decisions to further reduce mercury pollution and protect human health. and environmental safety.

The conference was held in Geneva from October 30 to November 3. The General Assembly revised the annex to the Convention, setting a new phase-out date for some batteries, switches, relays, fluorescent lamps and other mercury-containing products, and agreed to gradually promote the reduction of dental amalgam and that cosmetics will no longer be allowed to contain mercury from 2025. HG. The conference also determined that the use of mercury catalysts in the production of polyurethane will be phased out.

In addition, the conference adopted guidelines for the control of mercury releases to land and water bodies and requested parties to continue their efforts to limit mercury releases to the atmosphere. Parties also agreed to set a threshold for mercury concentrations in waste contaminated with mercury or mercury compounds at 15 mg/kg and invited parties to submit scientific and regulatory information in this regard.

In October 2013, the international community reached agreement on the legally binding Minamata Convention on Mercury. The Convention aims to control mercury supply and trade and reduce mercury use and emissions through the joint efforts of the parties.