Minamata Convention on mercury: Text and Annex / Update 2024

ID 2375 | Update 14.03.2025

The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. It was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on mercury in Geneva, Switzerland at 7 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, 19 January 2013 and adopted later that year on 10 October 2013 at a Diplomatic Conference (Conference of Plenipotentiaries), held in Kumamoto, Japan.

The Minamata Convention entered into force on 16 August 2017, on the 90th day after the date of deposit of the 50th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

The Convention draws attention to a global and ubiquitous metal that, while naturally occurring, has broad uses in everyday objects and is released to the atmosphere, soil and water from a variety of sources. Controlling the anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle has been a key factor in shaping the obligations under the Convention.

Major highlights of the Minamata Convention include a ban on new mercury mines, the phase-out of existing ones, the phase out and phase down of mercury use in a number of products and processes, control measures on emissions to air and on releases to land and water, and the regulation of the informal sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.

The Booklet of the Convention has been updated to its 2024 edition in English, French, and Spanish, reflecting the decisions made at the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-5).

October 2024
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Amendments adopted by COP-5 in 2023

The fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-5) adopted decision MC-5/4: Amendments to annexes A and B and the feasibility of mercury-free alternatives for manufacturing processes listed in annex B. COP decided to amend Annex A, Part I of the Convention, which lists mercury-added products of which manufacture, import and export are to be phased out. By deciding to phase out the remaining categories for the already listed products, the new amendments will result in complete phase out of:

- all batteries known to have mercury added (by 2025),
- all switches and relays containing mercury except those for research and development purposes (by 2025), and
- all fluorescent lamps (by 2027), which will also generate considerable energy saving gains.
In addition, the COP decided to eliminate the 1 ppm threshold for mercury content in cosmetics, including skin lightening soaps and creams, thereby making it explicit that no mercury can be added to cosmetics.

COP-5 also decided to amend Annex A, Part II of the Convention with a new measure to be taken by Parties which have not phased out use of dental amalgam yet, and more specifically to prepare a national action plan or a report with respect to progress they have made or are making to phase down or phase out dental amalgam every four years. COP also decided to consider amending both Part I and Part II of the Annex regarding dental amalgam at COP-6.

Finally, COP-5 decided to amend Annex B, Part I of the Convention and to follow up on Annex B, Part II, which regulates mercury use in industrial processes, as follows:

- It listed production of polyurethane using mercury containing catalysts for phase out by 2025. Polyurethane foams, coatings and adhesives are used for various purposes such as home furnishing, clothing and sponges.
- It established that mercury-free processes for sodium or potassium methylate or ethylate production have become technically and economically feasible, and therefore, as per the Convention requirements, the use of mercury in this process will not be allowed from 2028. These chemicals are used as catalysts in production of biodiesel, pharmaceuticals and pigments.
- In accordance with article 26 and 27 of the Convention, the COP-5 amendments will enter into force on 25 April 2025 for all Parties, except for Parties who notify the Depositary in accordance with subparagraph 3 (b) of article 27 of the Convention and those who made a declaration with regard to amendment of annexes in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 30 and did not deposit with the Depositary any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect to the amendments adopted at COP-5.
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Amendments adopted by COP-4 in 2022

The fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-4) decided to amend part I of annex A to the Convention by adding eight new mercury-added products, so that the manufacture, import and export of those products would not be allowed after 2025. COP-4 further decided to amend part II of annex A to the Convention by adding two additional provisions on dental amalgam.

In accordance with article 26 and 27 of the Convention, the amendment entered into force on 28 September 2023 for all parties, except those who made a declaration with regard to amendment of annexes in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 30 and did not deposit with the Depositary any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect to the amendments adopted at COP-4.

Please find below a list of parties with respective dates of effect for the amended annex A. The list is indicative only. Any official statement concerning the status of ratification, acceptance, formal confirmation, approval or accession of the Minamata Convention or any amendments thereto is solely within the competence of the Depositary of the Convention in New York (based on the provisions of the Convention). In accordance with Article 34 of the Convention, the Secretary-General of the United Nations is the Depository of this Convention. Blank cells in the table indicate that the Party made a declaration with regard to amendment of annexes in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 30 and did not deposit with the Depositary any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect to the amendments adopted at the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties.
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Minamata Convention on mercury: Text and Annex  / Update 2016

The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. It was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland at 7 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, 19 January 2013.

The major highlights of the Minamata Convention on Mercury include a ban on new mercury mines, the phase-out of existing ones, control measures on air emissions, and the international regulation of the informal sector for artisanal and small-scale gold mining.

The Convention draws attention to a global and ubiquitous metal that, while naturally occurring, has broad uses in everyday objects and is released to the atmosphere, soil and water from a variety of sources. Controlling the anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle has been a key factor in shaping the obligations under the convention.

October 2013

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