GLOBAL MERCURY CONVENTION ADOPTED IN GENEVA
The 5th Mercury Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC5) took place in Geneva from 13 to 19 January 2013 bringing together delegates from 140 countries. After intensive negotiations delegates agreed on the Global Mercury Convention text which will be formally adopted in Minimata, Japan, in October 2013. The Convention will legally bind countries to limit environmentally and medically harmful mercury extraction and its use in industrial processes, various products as well as in medicine. The Convention will also oblige countries to respect new standards for the mercury and mercury-containing products' waste management.
On 28 July – 2 August 2013, the 11th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant will also take place in Edinburgh, Scotland. During the conference there will be talks on how best to put the Global Mercury Convention into practice. Almost 1200 delegates representing legislators, government agencies, industry, science, academia and NGO's will meet to discuss the mutual challenges.
