In preparation for the Minamata Convention on Mercury’s fifth Conference of the Parties, the Asia Pacific regional preparatory meeting was held in Bangkok last September 5 and 6, 2023.

The meeting provides Member States and related stakeholders an opportunity to discuss and share ideas in preparation for COP-5 in Geneva this October of the same year.

In 2020, the Philippines ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a legally-binding global treaty that seeks to protect human health and the environment from man-made emissions of mercury and mercury compounds. Environmental watchdog BAN Toxics has been an active participant at the treaty meetings and has advocated for the reduction and, if possible, elimination of anthropogenic uses of mercury.

“The participation of civil society organizations in these meetings is essential towards ensuring that human health and the environment are prioritized in the discussions,” says Jam Lorenzo from BAN Toxics’ Policy Development and Research Unit.

Key discussion points for the meeting include regional positions on the different agenda items for COP-5, including mercury-added products (such as cosmetics and dental amalgam) and artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Both are considered significant sources of mercury emission and releases.

“The regional meeting and COP-5 will have long-term impacts on how we engage with communities who are impacted by mercury and how we can provide support towards transitioning to safer practices. Moving away from dangerous mercury-added products such as cosmetics, dental amalgam, and light bulbs should be our priority for a safer and toxics-free future,” added BAN Toxics.

The meeting is also attended by BAN Toxics’ allied networks and colleagues who are advocating for a mercury-free future. Siddika Sultana from the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry states that “Mercury is a neurotoxin. It is high time to adopt the measures to phase-out the use of mercury in dental amalgam for pregnant women and children by 2023 and total phase-out by 2030.”

The Asia Pacific regional preparatory meeting for the Minamata Convention on Mercury is held back-to-back with a related meeting for an ad-hoc open-ended working group on a Science Policy Panel on chemicals, wastes, and pollution prevention.

Reference:

https://mercuryconvention.org/en/meetings/cop5#regional-meetings