Context : Consensus is building among various stakeholders meeting in Bali, Indonesia, to adopt a non-binding declaration that will enhance international cooperation and coordination for combating illegal trade in mercury, a major pollutant globally.

Indonesia, as well as the United Nations, have sought support and commitment from parties to the Minamata Convention for a Bali Declaration on combatting the Global Illegal Trade of Mercury.

About

• The issue is being discussed at the fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-4.2).
• The conference is being held from 21st to 25th March 2022.
• The non-binding declaration calls upon parties to:
  • Develop practical tools and notification and information-sharing systems for monitoring and managing trade in mercury.
  • Exchange experiences and practices relating to combating illegal trade in mercury, including reducing the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
  • Share examples of national legislation and data and information related to such trade.

What are the Objectives of the Declaration?

The non-binding declaration calls upon parties to:

• Develop practical tools and notification and information-sharing systems for monitoring and managing trade in mercury.
• Exchange experiences and practices relating to combating illegal trade in mercury, including reducing the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
• Share examples of national legislation and data and information related to such trade.

What is Mercury?

• Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil. Released into the atmosphere through natural processes such as weathering of rocks, volcanic eruptions, geothermal activities, forest fires, etc. Mercury is also released through human activities.
• Mercury is consider by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern.

What is Minamata Disease?

• A disorder caused by methylmercury poisoning that was first described in the inhabitants of Minamata Bay, Japan and resulted from their eating fish contaminated with mercury industrial waste.
• The disease is characterizes by peripheral sensory loss, tremors, and both hearing and visual loss.
• Methylmercury is very different from ethylmercury. Ethylmercury is use as a preservative in some vaccines and does not pose a health risk.

The Minamata Convention:

• 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.
• It was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland 2013. It entered into force in 2017.
• Controlling the anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle is one of the key obligations under the Convention.
• It is a UN treaty.
• The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.
• India has ratified the Convention.

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