Mercury is recognized as a chemical of global concern due to its long-range transport in the atmosphere, its persistence in the environment, its ability to bioaccumulate in ecosystems and its negative effect on human health and the environment.
Mercury can produce a range of adverse human health effects, including permanent damage to the nervous system, particularly the developing nervous system. Because of these effects, and also because mercury can be transferred from a mother to her child during pregnancy, infants, children and pregnant women are considered the most vulnerable populations.
MERCURY PROJECTS
- Development of Minamata Initial Assessment in Cuba
- Minimization and environmentally sound management of mercury containing waste in Latin America and Caribbean countries
- Mercury storage and disposal LAC two countries project
- Rational management of mercury-containing products
- Ratification and early implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury in Uruguay.
- Environmentally Sound Life Cycle Management of Mercury-Containing Products and their Wastes
- Development of mercury risk management approaches in Latin America
- Development of Minamata Initial Assessment in LAC
The Minamata Convention on Mercury and its implementation in the Latin American and Caribbean Region
International legally binding instrument on mercury
The development of international legally binding instrument on mercury was in charge of an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) with the support of the Division of Chemical Technology Division, Industry and Economy Secretariat.
Participation in the INC was open to all governments. Intergovernmental organizations and NGOs may also participate as observers.
The work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee was held in five sessions:
The Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted and opened for signature at the Conference of Plenipotentiaries held from 10 to 11 October 2013 in Kumamoto, Japan. All about the Minamata Convention is in www.mercuryconvention.org
Development of Minamata Initial Assessment in Cuba
