Minamata Convention on Mercury

Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted at the Conference of Plenipotentiaries held in Kumamoto city and Minamata city in October, 2013. This convention aims to protect the human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions/releases of mercury and mercury compounds and stipulates appropriate management and reduction of the emissions through the entire lifecycle of mercury including mining, use in products and manufacturing processes, emission to atmosphere, disposal as waste.

Japan concluded the convention on February 2, 2016 after developing the laws and ordinances necessary to implement the convention. And Japan expressed its intention to support developing countries and to promote voices and messages from Minamata, through the actions titled "MOYAI Initiative" at the Conference of Plenipotentiaries. As part of this initiative, the MINAS (MOYAI Initiative for Networking, Assessment and Strengthening) is being promoted to support developing countries' efforts in mercury management in close cooperation with US-EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), UNEP (United Nations Environment Program), JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and others.

Statement by the Minister of the Environment about the Cabinet Decision on the Conclusion of the Minamata Convention on Mercury by Japan

Statement by the Minister of the Environment, Japan at the 1st Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention