GENEVA (AN) — Delegates to the global treaty regulating mercury decided to fully phase out the manufacture and trade of mercury-containing dental amalgam globally by 2034.
The decision came at the biennial summit of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which ended on Friday. It was one of 21 decisions adopted by the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, or COP-6, to advance implementation and cooperation.
These included stronger action on health measures, ranging from enhancing enforcement and cooperation with the World Health Organization to curb the illegal trade of mercury-added skin-lightening products, to regulating the supply and trade of mercury by adopting a decision on harmonized customs codes for mercury-containing goods.
"We have set ambitious new goals, and left mercury a little further behind, together," said Chilean diplomat Osvaldo Álvarez Pérez, who presided over the summit.
Since its adoption in 2013 and entry into force in 2017, the convention has grown to include 153 parties. It is named for the Japanese seaside city of Minamata, where a severe neurological disorder, Minamata disease, was discovered. The illness, caused by mercury poisoning, was traced to methylmercury in industrial wastewater, crippling many who ate contaminated fish in the late 1950s.
The core decision elevated dental amalgam from a "phase-down" requirement—which already restricted its use in vulnerable populations, including children and pregnant women—to a complete, legally binding elimination, by amending an annex of the treaty. The adoption was met with applause and standing ovations in plenary, reflecting the shared commitment of parties.
The five-day summit drew over 1,000 participants in person and nearly 4,000 online viewers. The eight-year-old treaty already is "a model for global environmental governance, one that can, and should, serve as a blueprint for addressing other pollution challenges," said Katrin Schneeberger, director of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, representing the host nation.
The final 2034 deadline was a diplomatic compromise. While nations, including the U.S. and African countries, pushed for an earlier phase-out date of 2030, opposition from Britain, India, and Iran, among others, favored a longer timeframe.
Those nations cited the need to fully consider the cost and durability of alternatives to mercury-based dental amalgams before mandating a switch. Concerns driving the phase-out also included the exposure of dentist practitioners to mercury vapors, disposal of mercury amalgam, and emissions from crematoria.
The gold mining challenge
The decision on dental amalgam was counterbalanced by the greater challenge of artisanal and small-scale gold mining, or ASGM, which is the single largest source of mercury pollution globally.
The sector, estimated to contribute 37% of global mercury pollution, does not face a mandatory global phase-out date under the convention. Instead, nations with significant ASGM operations are required only to develop and implement national plans to reduce its use.
However, the COP requested the secretariat to explore how supply-chain transparency and certification can reduce mercury use and enhance accountability of buyers and intermediaries across the gold trade.
Discussions at the meeting highlighted that soaring gold prices are exacerbating the illicit mercury trade, complicating efforts to reduce exposure in regions like the Amazon.
Stankiewicz also acknowledged the participation of observers, including scientists, industry representatives, and civil society groups, saying their engagement "enriches our work and helps ensure that the convention reflects the realities and hopes of all stakeholders."
The summit also reviewed the convention's financial mechanism, which is largely supported by the Global Environment Facility. Delegates emphasized that a robust replenishment of the GEF fund will be key to the convention's ability to meet its obligations on time.
Additionally, the COP-6 called for closer collaboration with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Each plays a role in a broader global effort to address the "triple planetary crisis" of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
"We have just opened the door to another chapter of the mercury history book," said Convention Executive Secretary Monika Stankiewicz, who thanked Álvarez Pérez for his "experienced stewardship" throughout the negotiations and host nation Switzerland for its "steadfast support."
The establishment of an International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Mercury, the launch of the Convention's Women's Caucus, and a Youth Declaration were also cited as milestones. The summit's actions, Stankiewicz added, "show the promise of multilateral action, at a time when it is most urgently needed."
