The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a legally binding international treaty that aims to protect human health and the environment from mercury pollution caused by human activity. Adopted in 2013 and in force since 2017, it addresses mercury across its lifecycle—from products and industrial processes to emissions, waste, health measures, and national reporting.
What is the Convention’s purpose?
Article 1 states: “The objective of this Convention is to protect the human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.” “Anthropogenic” means caused by human activity. The Convention brings countries that become Parties into a shared framework for controlling mercury, rather than imposing one identical set of domestic rules automatically everywhere.
The treaty was adopted in Kumamoto, Japan, on 10 October 2013. It entered into force on 16 August 2017, after the 50th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession was deposited and the treaty’s 90-day waiting period elapsed. The Convention’s official overview provides the treaty background.
What does the Minamata Convention cover?
The Convention addresses mercury at multiple stages, not just smokestack pollution. Its articles and annexes combine phase-outs, restrictions, controls, plans, cooperation, and reporting. The precise duty depends on the provision, its dates, and any applicable exemption or treaty procedure. The official Convention text and annexes are the authority for the exact requirements.
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| Area | What the treaty addresses |
|---|---|
| Supply and trade | Controls related to mercury supply sources and international trade. |
| Products | Article 4 and Annex A set controls, including phase-out provisions, for listed mercury-added products. |
| Manufacturing | Article 5 and Annex B address mercury use in listed manufacturing processes. |
| Artisanal and small-scale gold mining | Provisions address this source of mercury use and pollution. |
| Air emissions and environmental releases | Articles 8 and 9 address emissions to air and releases to land and water. |
| Storage, waste, and contaminated sites | The treaty covers interim storage, mercury waste, and sites contaminated with mercury. |
| Health and information | It includes health-related measures, information and awareness, research, and cooperation. |
| National reporting | Article 21 establishes reporting by Parties on measures taken to implement the Convention. |
Which products and processes have newer phase-out provisions?
Mercury-added products
At the fourth Conference of the Parties (COP-4) in 2022, Parties amended Annex A to add eight product categories and adopted two provisions concerning dental amalgam. Under the applicable treaty provisions, manufacture, import, and export of the newly listed product categories are disallowed after 2025. The amendment entered into force under the default procedure on 28 September 2023, but a Party’s declaration or later acceptance can change the date that applies to that Party. The official COP-4 amendments information explains the amendment and its status rules.
Sodium or potassium methylate and ethylate production
At COP-5 in 2023, Parties adopted further amendments and decisions concerning Annexes A and B. The Convention Secretariat states that mercury-free alternatives for producing sodium or potassium methylate or ethylate are technically and economically feasible, and that mercury use in these processes will not be allowed from 2028 under the Convention requirements. The date’s effect for an individual Party can depend on amendment procedures; consult the official COP-5 amendments information for details.
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Why can requirements differ between countries?
The Convention is an agreement among its Parties, and countries implement its obligations through national measures. Some requirements are tied to dates in the treaty or its annexes; exemptions and Party-specific amendment procedures can also matter. As a result, a treaty provision should not be presented as a universal domestic ban that applies in precisely the same way and on the same date in every country.
For a country-specific answer, check the current status recorded by the UN Depositary, which is the authority for official treaty-status determinations. The Convention’s Parties and treaty-status information can help identify the relevant national context; use the treaty text and applicable national rules to determine how an obligation is implemented.
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Where can Parties find implementation guidance?
The Convention’s official resources include guidance for health-related articles and for national reporting. WHO strategic-planning guidance helps Parties address the health provisions, while national reporting guidance supports their reporting under Article 21. The official implementation guidance page lists these materials alongside other resources.
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