Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken at the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury [Phasing-out of dental amalgam]

Summary:

Proposal presented on 16 September 2019 by the European Commission establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the Union as regards the adoption of a decision on the phasing-out of dental amalgam and amending Annex A to the Convention.

Further information:

The Minamata Convention on Mercury is the main international legal framework aimed at protecting human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds to air, water and land. It addresses the whole life-cycle of mercury, from primary mercury mining to mercury waste disposal. The Agreement entered into force on 16 August 2017.

The Conference of the Parties (COP), during its third meeting on 25 November 2019, is expected to adopt a Decision regarding the phasing-out of dental amalgam and the amendment of Annex A to the Convention as a follow-up to a joined proposal made by six African countries which are Parties to the Agreement (Gabon, Chad, Guinea Bissau, Botswana, Senegal, and Niger).