The Minamata Convention
Concerns over the negative impact of mercury gave rise to the promulgation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury of October 2013.
THE convention is a Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) with the objective of protecting human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds. It was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on mercury in Geneva, Switzerland, January 19, 2013 and adopted later that year on October 10, 2013 at a Diplomatic Conference which was held in Kumamoto, Japan.
The convention was a result of international action aimed at managing mercury in an efficient, effective and coherent manner, whilst member state work on towards its total elimination. To date 128 countries, including Zimbabwe have signed the convention.
It draws attention to a global and ubiquitous naturally occurring metal that has broad uses in our everyday life and is released in to the atmosphere, soil and water from numerous sources. Large-scale public health crises due to mercury poisoning, such as Minamata disease and Niigata Minamata disease, also drew attention to the issue.
In 1972, delegates to the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment witnessed Japanese Junior High School Student Shinobu Sakamoto, disabled as the result of methylmercury poisoning.
The adoption of the life cycle assessment approach towards the management of the anthropogenic releases and emissions of mercury has been a key factor in the finalisation of the obligations under the Convention.
The Minamata Convention covers issues on the ban on new mercury mines, the phase-out of existing mercury mines, 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.
In addition, the convention also covers the interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, mercury contaminated site, as well as health issues.
Zimbabwe signed the convention on the October 11, 2013 and the nation is currently conducting national mercury inventories in a bid to gather information on the quantity of mercury emissions and release as well as their distribution in land, air and water.
The data will inform the nation towards the ratification of the convention.
What does the law say about mercury?
The Environmental Management Act Cap (20:27) of 2002 as read with Statutory Instrument 12 of 2007 Hazardous Substances, Pesticides and Toxic Substances Regulations prohibit the importation, transportation, storage or sell of any hazardous substance without a licence from EMA.
ECO QUIZ for all
Explain how the Minamata convention mitigates the negative effects of mercury use in Zimbabwe?
Send all answers through eep@ema. co.zw by the March 31, 2017. Clearly indicate your name, address, gender, age and nearest EMA office.