Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | 195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18 901, Wellington 5045, New Zealand
Ph +64 4 439 8000, | Email:info at mfat.govt.nz
Treaty Type:
Multilateral
Common Name:
Responsible Department:
Environment
Administering Department:
Environment
Treaty Summary:
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury emissions.
Mercury is used in a variety of products and processes, and can have devastating effects on human health and the environment. Due to its hardy nature as an element, it is virtually impossible to destroy, and can travel swiftly between countries through primary use, products, waste, emissions to air, and releases to land or water.
The Convention targets a number of aspects of the mercury life-cycle, including:
- primary mining of, and trade in, mercury and mercury compounds
- trade in mercury-added products (such as some batteries and light-bulbs)
- manufacturing processes in which mercury or mercury compounds are used
- emissions of mercury to air, and releases to land and water
- environmentally sound storage of mercury
- transboundary movement in mercury waste, mercury-contaminated or mercury-containing wastes
- mercury contaminated sites
- increasing knowledge through awareness raising and information exchange
- specifying arrangements for capacity building, and
- addressing implementation and compliance recognising that the ability of some countries to implement their obligations is dependent on developing capacity.
NZ Adherence Status:
In Progress
Negotiation Status:
The negotiations commenced in June 2010 in Stockholm, and concluded in Geneva in January 2013, after five negotiations sessions. New Zealand signed the Convention in Japan in October 2013. Parliamentary Treaty Exmination and National Interest Analysis were concluded in 2014. New Zealand will ratify the Convention once the required domestic implementation measures are developed.
Organisation:
UNEP
Is Signed By NZ:
Yes
Signature Date:
10/10/2013
Ratified or Signed:
No
Requires Ratification:
Yes
NZ Territorial Applications:
None
Information about required Legislation:
Parliament has completed the treaty examination process for the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Ratification will take place once the domestic measures to implement the Convention are developed.
The Ministry for the Environment undertook two consultations in 2020 to enable New Zealand to complete the outstanding steps on domestic measures. The Ministry consulted on proposals to set controls on emissions to air from mercury, as part of a broader review of the National Environmental Standards on Air Quality. The Ministry also consulted on proposals to control the trade in mercury and mercury-containing products. For information about these consultations see: https://www.mfe.govt.nz/consultations/improving-our-air and https://www.mfe.govt.nz/consultations/mercury-managing-trade.
Impacts on Maori:
None specific to Māori. The Ministry for the Environment sought direct input from Māori during the 2020 consultations.
Impacts on Stakeholders:
Will control some uses, emissions and releases of mercury, as well as specified products containing mercury, and transboundary movement of mercury in waste. Further consultation will occur as part of the legislative process.
Link To Legislation:
Treaty Text Link:
Contact Information:
If you would like more information about this Treaty please contact us using our contact form.