The minamata convention is a 21st century response to the catastrophic pollution in minamata, japan, where industrial releases of methyl mercury caused the epidemic known as the minamata disease in the 1950s and onwards. It also excludes use of mercury in ayurvedic, siddha and unani medicines. An editorial published in quintessence international. Ii of annex a, such as minimizing its use, promoting the use of mercuryfree.
The availability to the parties of mercuryfree alternatives that are technically and economically feasible, taking into account the environmental and human. This paper first presents an overview of the minamata convention, and then. Minamata convention on mercury was adopted at the conference of. Minamata convention on mercury geneva environment network. Fsc certified, postconsumer waste and chlorine free. 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. Overview of the minamata convention on mercury and the. Jan 19, 20 the minamata convention on mercury named after a city in japan where serious health damage occurred as a result of mercury pollution in the mid20th centuryprovides controls and reductions across a range of products, processes and industries where mercury is used, released or emitted.
Guide and checklist for phasing out mercuryadded products. 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. The union cabinet has approved proposal for ratification of minamata convention on mercury and depositing instrument of ratification enabling india to become party of convention. Through the minamata convention on mercury, the global community. The minamata conventions provisions for dental amalgama mercury. A new film starring johnny depp, minamata, directed by andrew levitas, tells the story of the legendary photojournalist eugene smith and his wife aileen mioko smith whose life magazine photos and book minamata brought global attention to the devastating impacts of mercury pollution and exposed the corporate malfeasance of the chisso corporation that knowingly poured mercury. 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. Sep 29, 2017 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. The manual will contribute to a better understanding of the. Dec 06, 2017 we produced no more mercury concept video including details of minamata disease and minamata convention. It does not substitute the original authentic texts of the minamata convention on mercury as deposited with the secretarygeneral of the united nations acting as the depositary of the convention. Minamata convention on mercury this convention aims to protect the human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissionsreleases of mercury and mercury compounds and stipulates appropriate management and reduction of the emissions through the entire lifecycle of mercury including mining, use in products and manufacturing processes.
The minamata convention on mercury 20 is an international legally binding treaty that aims to protect the human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. The minamata convention on mercury is an opportunity for the global community to address this mounting problem before it gets worse. The text of the minamata convention pdf 71 pp, 434 k, about pdfexit was adopted by delegates from over 140 countries on january 19. Minamata convention on mercury international cooperation us. Mercury free guides and products are available many countries have already. The minamata convention on mercury represents a major milestone in glo bal efforts to reduce the adverse impacts of mercury. In this article, you can read all about the minamata convention for the upsc exam gs paper iii, environment and ecology segments. We produced no more mercury concept video including details of minamata disease and minamata convention. Pdf the minamata convention on mercury a new era of. Pdf in july 1956, in a fishing village near the city of minamata on japans shiranui sea, a baby girl named shinobu sakamoto was. Please watch this video and feel how mercury is harmful to people. Exhibition spaces will be provided to the selected applicants free of charge.
The minamata convention on mercury is a new global treaty that addresses all aspects of the life cycle of mercury, including requiring controls and reductions across a range of products, processes and industries. 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. The minamata convention a response to global concern. Minamata convention on mercury wikipedia republished wiki 2. Minamata, a film featuring the minamata disease, a debilitating illness caused by mercury poisoning, premieres at the berlin international film festival. Minamata convention on mercury department of agriculture.
Takafumi anan, i am writing to submit our comments on fluorescent lighting products which are listed in annex a of the minamata convention on mercury. The approval entails ratification of convention along with flexibility for continued use of mercury based products and processes involving mercury compound up to 2025. Continued bilateral environmental cooperation may 16, 2016 pdf 309kb. Symptomfree mothers gave birth to severely affected children. Minamata convention on mercury ratification and implementation manual, ban toxics, nrdc and zero mercury working group zmwg. Minamata convention on mercury international cooperation. The minamata convention calls for signatory parties to phase out mercury based chloralkali production by 2025. Implementation of the minamata convention on mercury. The convention makes it possible for developed countries to help financially, technically, and technologically developing countries in the management of mercury, in order to promote a mercury free world. Mercury is a naturally occurring heavy metal which is highly toxic. Celebrations followed after 110 nations signed the minamata convention at kumamato in japan. Under article 4 of the convention, parties are not allowed to manufacture, import or export a prescribed list of mercury added products after 2020, unless a party re. Oct 01, 20 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.
Prior to the export ban, the mercury was predominantly exported to developing countries and very likely, a significant part of the exported mercury was used for artisanal gold mining in developing. The world chlorine council is an active participant in the minamata convention and in supporting the work of the unep global mercury partnership. The minamata convention on mercury requires mercury and mercury products containing mercury such as mercury blood pressure monitors to be phased out in 2020. Minamata convention on mercury enters into force ens. The minamata convention on mercury is an important international treaty intended to protect health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury.
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. The minamata convention on mercury will further urge enterprises to move to mercury free alternatives in products and nonmercury technologies in manufacturing processes. Minamata convention on mercury ias abhiyan ii ias upsc exam. Each applicant will be provided with one table, two chairs and one pin up board free of charge. Who the minamata convention and the phase down of dental. Minamata is known worldwide due to minamata disease, a neurological disorder caused by mercury poisoning. Minamata convention on mercury ministry for the environment. It was agreed at the fifth session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee on mercury in geneva, switzerland at 7 a.
Minamata convention on mercury ratification and implementation manual, ban toxics, nrdc and zero mercury working. 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. Minamata disease is a poisoning disease that affects mainly the central nervous system and is caused by the consumption of large quantities of fish and shellfish living in minamata bay and its surroundings, the major causative agent being some sort of organic mercury compound. Expert groups on annexes a and b and mercury releases met electronically on 7 may submissions on annexes a and b are due by 15 may.
In 1968, the japanese government officially announced that the disease was caused by the intake. Annexes this booklet is published for information only. Aug 16, 2017 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. Recalling the united nations conference on sustainable developments. This publication is printed on fully recycled paper. Inks are vegetablebased and coatings are waterbased. The minamata convention represents a major step forward to help the united states and other countries to reduce peoples exposure to mercury.
The availability to the parties of mercuryfree alternatives that are technically and. The major highlights of the minamata convention on mercury include a ban on new mercury mines, the phase. This mercury threatens ecosystems and the health of indigenous populations and consumers of country foods. Iisd reporting services, through its enb meeting coverage, will cover the 1st meeting of the conference of the parties to the minamata convention on mercury cop1, from 24 to 29 september 2017, from geneva, switzerland. 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. The convention was four years in the making, with more than nations agreeing by consensus to a final text in january 20. By naming the convention minamata convention, the name minamata will not only be associated with a problem. The minamata convention on mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. In the preamble, the convention acknowledges that mercur y is a chemical of global concern owing to. Contents of the minamata convention 1 objective of the convention the objective of the minamata convention is to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury com pounds art. Dental restorative materials and the minamata convention on mercury. Pdf minamata convention on mercury is the answer to the threat of global emissions of. 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 19 january 20 in geneva and.