New bans on the manufacture of products containing mercury from 1Ahem January 2026 were decided at the Fourth Conference of States Parties to the Minamata Convention, which took place from March 21 to 25, 2022 in Bali (Indonesia).
These bans, indicates the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, concern various types of fluorescent lamps, mercury vacuum pumps, wheel balancers and wheel counterweights, photographic films and papers, as well as propellants for satellites and spacecraft. A decision on dental amalgam was also adopted calling on States to favor the use of mercury in predosed or encapsulated form, discourage the use of amalgam for sensitive categories of people, and generalize the use of alternative solutions.
Parties also discussed artisanal mining. Is about “the largest source of mercury emissions to the environment, even more than emissions from coal-fired power plants, which rank second says the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Through a new decision, the States decided that all mercury waste resulting from gold mining should be managed in an environmentally sound manner to avoid any contamination of the environment, and that national action plans should aim to phase out the use of mercury. in gold mining after consultation with local communities. States Parties have also adopted the non-binding Bali Declaration to combat illegal trade in mercury.
The Minamata Convention was signed on October 10, 2013, in order to combat mercury, a heavy metal that persists in the environment, which can affect the neurological development of the fetus and cause reduced fertility, brain and nerve damage. as well as the heart. illness. The convention entered into force on August 16, 2017. It now has 37 contracting parties. At the European Union level, the use of mercury is subject to restrictions by a regulation of May 17, 2017, which the Commission plans to strengthen.
Towards a law to eliminate the use of “toxic” dental mercury in France? (article published on 05/12/2013) Environmental parliamentarians, the Non au Mercure Dentaire association and the Environment Health Network presented on December 5 a bill aimed at eliminating mercury dental amalgams in the name of the precautionary principle. read the news
Gold panning in Guyana: WWF warns of growing impacts (article published on 10/19/2017) “Given the uncontrolled increase in the impacts of extractive activities highlighted in [notre] study, it is urgent that all the States involved continue the efforts of cooperation and can ratify and apply the International Convention… read the news
Fight against mercury: signing of the Minamata agreement (article published on 10/10/2013) Following the adoption of an international convention restricting the use of mercury earlier this year, Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment, and Valentinas Mazuronis, Minister for the Environment of Lithuania, signed… read the news
Fight against mercury: on August 16, the Minamata international agreement will enter into force (article published on 05/22/2017) The ratification by the European Union and seven of its Member States (Bulgaria, Denmark, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Romania and Sweden) caused the entry into force of the Convention on May 18… read the news
The European Union steps up the fight against mercury pollution (article published on 05/05/2017) Applicable from 2018, a new European regulation restricts the use and trade of products containing mercury, particularly in dental amalgams. The text also regulates waste management. read the news
The European Commission wants to strengthen the fight against mercury pollution (article published on 09/02/2022) The European Union continues its fight against mercury. Until May 3, 2022, the European Commission opens for public consultation a proposal to review the May 2017 regulation. As a reminder, this text already restricts the use of am… read the news
Regulation of 05/17/2017 (2017/852) Regulation (EU) 2017/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of May 17, 2017, on mercury and repealing Regulation (EC) No. 1102/2008 Subscribe to EnviroveilleLearn more
Article published on April 11, 2022
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