Debriefing Document for Caribbean Parties to the Minamata Convention following its Sixth Conference of the Parties

Organizational Matters 

Agenda and Organization of Work 

On Monday, delegates adopted the agenda (UNEP/MC/COP.6/1/Rev.1) and approved the organization of work presented by President Álvarez and detailed by the Secretariat (UNEP/MC/COP.6/INF/4). President Álvarez announced that a new Bureau, Implementation and Compliance Committee (ICC), and Governing Board for the Specific International Programme to Support Capacity Building and Technical Assistance (SIP) would be elected later in the week, and called for all regions to submit their nominations for these positions by the end of plenary on Tuesday. 

 

Election of Officers 

On Friday, delegates elected Marie-Claire Lhenry (France) as President of COP-7. The following Vice-Presidents were elected to the COP-7 Bureau: Sandra Gonou (Benin) and Anne Nakafeero (Uganda) for the African Group; Khodayar Rouzbahani (Iran) and Fahmida Khanom (Bangladesh) for Asia-Pacific; Romana Grizelj (Croatia) and Irma Gurguliani (Georgia) for CEE; Linroy Christian (Antigua and Barbuda) and Arturo Gavilán (Mexico) for GRULAC; and Rachel Burgess (Australia) for the Western European and Others Group (WEOG). 

 

The following were elected to the ICC:

 Mereng Bodo Eliane Marina (Cameroon), Kidus Workineh Tebikew (Ethiopia), and Oluwatoyin Olabanji (Nigeria) for the African Group; Yao Wei (China), Amit Raj (India), and Pragusdiniyanto Soemantri (Indonesia) for Asia-Pacific; Anahit Aleksandryan (Armenia), Eva Šalplachtová (Czechia), and Sonja Roglic (Serbia) for CEE; João Paulo de Sousa Vieira (Brazil), María del Mar Solano (Costa Rica), and Tania Ramirez Muñoz (Mexico) for GRULAC; and Mathieu Van der Meerschen (Belgium), Rafael Zubrzycki (Germany), and Gene Smilansky (US) for WEOG. 

 

Elected to the SIP Governing Board were:

Liliane Randrianomenjanahary (Madagascar) and Obed Meringo Baloyi (South Africa) for the African Group; Luay Sadeq Almukhtar (Iraq) and Nazia Zaib (Pakistan) for Asia-Pacific; Donata Pipiraité-Vališkiené (Lithuania) and Jelena Kovačević (Montenegro) for the CEE; Cecilia Aburto Schweitzer (Chile) and Michelle Astwood (Guyana) for GRULAC; and Lien Bomans (Belgium) and Eveline Verhaar (Netherlands) for WEOG. 

Rules of Procedure and Financial Rules for the COP

Rules of Procedure

The Secretariat introduced its note on the rules of procedure (UNEP/MC/COP.6/3), noting the rules still have bracketed text in rule 45 regarding the option for parties to take a decision by voting on matters of substance. She further explained that the text describes action that can be taken when deciding what is a matter of substance, or a matter of procedure. Delegates agreed to return to this item at COP-7.

Financial Rules

The Secretariat introduced its note on financial rules (UNEP/MC/COP.6/4), noting bracketed text in the COP-1 decision (MC-1/10) regarding contributions, and in annex text regarding procedures of allocation from the Specific Trust Fund. Delegates agreed to return to this item at COP-7.

Matters for Consideration or Action by the Conference of the Parties

Mercury Support Sources and Trade

The Secretariat presented its note (UNEP/MC/COP.6/5) on mercury supply sources and trade, relating to implementation of Article 3, and one the draft study of the global supply, production, trade, and use of mercury compounds (UNEP/MC/COP.6/5/Add.1).

In its final decision on compounds (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.9), the COP:

• notes the obligation under Convention Article 3(13) to evaluate whether trade in certain mercury compounds threatens human health or the environment;
• encourages Parties to consider creating an additional Convention annex to regulate such trade;
• invites Parties and stakeholders to submit information by 31 March 2026 on mercury compound supply, trade, and potential candidates for listing in the annex; and
• establishes an OEEG, supported by the Secretariat, to analyze all submitted information and make recommendations ahead of COP-7.

In its final decision on trade and supply (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.14), the COP adopts updates to:

• the guidance on the identification of individual stocks of mercury or mercury compounds exceeding 50 metric tons and sources of mercury supply generating stocks exceeding 10 metric tons per year (CRP.14/Add.1); and
• the guidance on the use of forms on import and export of mercury (CRP.14/Add.2) to assist Parties in identifying, managing, and reducing mercury trade from primary mercury mining.

The COP also decides to:

• invite Parties that reported on experiences and challenges faced in the implementation of paragraph 3 of Article 3 on primary mercury mining in their national reports under Article 21; and
• encourage Parties, including those benefiting from the ongoing GEF projects, to continue to share information with the Secretariat about experiences in preventing and combating illegal trade in mercury, including with respect to the use of forms related to Article 3 on mercury trade.

The COP further requests the Secretariat to:

• develop, in collaboration with Parties and organizations with expertise on illegal trade, a report presenting strategies to address the supply and trade of mercury for Parties not in compliance with Article 3 of the Convention; and
• develop, subject to the availability of resources, guidance for a consistent use of Harmonized System codes related to mercury-containing goods, specifically mercury, mercury compounds, and mercury waste.

The COP requests the ICC to:

• assess the reasons Parties have provided as indications that they have challenges in implementing trade-related provisions under Article 3 and consider whether recommendations that go beyond the actions already taken by COP-4 and COP-5 might be beneficial to improve implementation; and
• cooperate, as needed, with compliance bodies of other MEAs on their activities, with the aim of supporting Parties in preventing and combating illegal trade.

 

Mercury-added Products and Manufacturing Processes in which mercury or mercury compounds are used:

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.23/Rev.1), the COP:

• adds dental amalgam to Annex A of the Minamata Convention, setting a phaseout date of 2034, after which the manufacture, import, or export of dental amalgam will not be allowed;
• allows an exception for cases when its use is considered necessary by the dental practitioner based on the needs of the patient; and
• requests the Secretariat to draft a revised reporting format under Article 21 to reflect the amendments to Annex A, as well as to revise the reporting guidance and the online electronic format thereon.

 

Cosmetics Listed in Part I of Annex A:

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.4), the COP:

• encourages Parties to inform the Secretariat of implementation challenges vis-à-vis obligations regarding mercury-added cosmetics;
• encourages the Global Mercury Partnership (GMP) to compile and disseminate information related to the presence of mercury in cosmetics;
• invites the Secretariat to provide COP-7 with information on mechanisms for supporting enforcement and the identification of the presence of mercury in cosmetics;
• invites the Secretariat to work with the World Customs Organization and INTERPOL to investigate sources of illegal trade in mercury; and
• invites the WHO to share lessons on ongoing projects on the elimination of mercury-added cosmetics and prepare an illustrative national public health, system-wide strategy focused on the reduction of the use of these products.

 

Consideration of the Feasibility of Mercury-free Alternatives for Manufacturing VCM:

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.26), the COP notes that it has not been possible to reach consensus to establish the economic and technical feasibility of mercury-free catalysts in VCM production and decides that the issue will be reconsidered at COP-7.

 

Extensions for Exemptions:

In its final decision on the exemption extension requests (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.22), the COP grants the extensions, and notes that, apart from the three extensions granted by COP-6, all registered exemptions from the 2020 phaseout dates listed in Annexes A and B to the Convention will expire on 31 December 2025 and cannot be requested again.

In its final decision on the procedure for requests to extend exemptions (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.24), the COP calls for any request for an extension to be submitted at least six months, but no less than two months, before the last COP held before the expiry date of the exemption. The request is expected to contain the information specified in paragraph 6 (a), (b), and (c) of Article 6 of the Convention for each mercury-added product or process included in the request. The Secretariat may consult as needed with the Party submitting the extension request.

Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining:

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.25), the COP, inter alia:

• calls on Parties to submit their final NAPs to the Secretariat as soon as possible;
• adopts the amended sections on the review of the implementation of Article 7, as presented in document UNEP/MC/COP.6/7/Add.1, for inclusion in the guidance document on developing NAPs;
• calls on all Parties that have submitted their NAPs to provide a review of the progress made in meeting their obligations under Article 7;
• invites Parties that have notified the Secretariat pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article 7 to make use of the provisional guide on the effective engagement of Indigenous Peoples and of local communities to provide feedback on the guide;
• requests the Secretariat to report on measures taken to implement NAPs, and to identify successful strategies and activities, achievements in implementation, and challenges and barriers encountered;
• encourages Parties to adopt or strengthen environmentally sustainable management of gold supply chains and measures to identify buyers and intermediaries and make them more responsible in the full lifecycle of these supply chains; and
• requests the Secretariat, subject to the availability of resources, in coordination with relevant international initiatives, to compile comparative experiences on supply-chain transparency and certification, and how such practices could impact the use of mercury in gold mining.

Mercury Waste:

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP6.CRP.20), the COP requests Parties and relevant stakeholders to submit any proposed updates to the lists of wastes covered by paragraph 2 (definition) of Article 11 on waste. It also requests the Secretariat to compile and summarize submissions regarding scientific and regulatory data on the effectiveness of the threshold for wastes contaminated with mercury or mercury compounds, as well as on challenges and experiences related to its use, for consideration by COP-7.

Review of the Financial Mechanism:

In its final decision, the COP (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.8), inter alia:

• highlights the importance of the ninth GEF replenishment for the Parties to the Convention for the period 2026–2030 vis-à-vis their respective obligations and deadlines to be met under the Convention;
• provides additional guidance to the GEF by adding the updating of the Minamata Initial Assessments and the monitoring of human exposure to mercury and environmental concentrations of mercury to the list of activities to implement the provisions of the Convention, and recalling the importance of providing support to address challenges arising from the obligations related to dental amalgam;
• recalls its guidance to the GEF, in decision MC-5/11, to take into account the time frames to which Parties must adhere for the implementation of mandatory obligations in developing its programming directions and resource allocations for the ninth replenishment period, and in further developing projects and programmes under the programming directions for the eighth replenishment;
• encourages the GEF, in reporting project results, to provide data and information on mercury reduction and avoidance, and on efforts to advance the effective engagement and participation of Indigenous Peoples, as well as local communities, and women and youth;
• requests the Secretariat, working with the SIP Governing Body, to finalize its analysis of staffing and funding needs of the SIP, and draft recommendations for consideration by COP-7; and
• agrees to consider at COP-7 a SIP extension for an additional period not exceeding seven years.

Capacity building, Technical Assistance, and Technology Transfer

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/13), the COP, inter alia:

• invites developed-country Parties and other Parties to take into account the challenges identified with regard to the uptake of alternative technologies, specifically in promoting and facilitating the development, transfer, and diffusion of up-to-date environmentally sound alternative technologies to developing-country Parties and Parties with economies in transition;
• encourages Parties, in their national reports, including their second full national reports, to include specific information on the development, transfer and diffusion of, and access to, alternative technologies, as well as on the challenges they have experienced in accessing and transferring technology, to assist in a future review of challenges and progress; and
• calls on Parties, and invites non-Parties to the Convention and others in a position to do so, to contribute to the special trust fund for the Convention, to enable the implementation of the capacity-building activities described in the 2026–2027 programme of work and budget activity fact sheet for capacity-building and technical assistance.

 

The COP also requests the Secretariat to:

• further collect and analyze, in collaboration with the GMP, information on existing initiatives and progress made in relation to alternative technologies, as well as related needs and challenges; and
• continue to provide capacity-building and technical assistance support to Parties, including through active and sustained engagement with the GMP.

 

National Reporting

In its decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/15), the COP, inter alia:

• encourages Parties to achieve a high rate of reporting for the second full reports, due by 31 December 2025;
• reiterates its call to Parties that have received consent to export mercury to Parties and/or non-Parties to provide to the Secretariat either copies of the consent forms used or other suitable information in their reports submitted; and
• requests the Secretariat to collect information on best practices for reporting on informal or illegal activities that do not conform with the provisions of the Convention, with a view to identifying information that would be helpful for assessing their scale and nature, and to explore how such information could inform tools or reporting elements to support Parties facing such challenges.

 

Effectiveness Evaluation:

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/16), the COP requests Parties to submit their full national reports under Article 21 of the Convention to the Secretariat by 31 December 2025, in order to ensure that the most recent information is available for the first effectiveness evaluation.

 

Cross-cutting Matters: implementation of Decision MS-5/1:

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.18/Rev.1), the COP urges Parties to provide support for the effective participation of Indigenous Peoples, as well as local communities in work and meetings under the Convention. It also requests the Secretariat to:

• seek advice from Indigenous Peoples, as well as local communities, through Indigenous Peoples’ organizations accredited to the Convention, local communities’ organizations accredited to the Convention, and the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Mercury;
• communicate with them regarding opportunities for engagement; and
• collaborate with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretariat of the CBD, and other relevant partners to further strengthen effective engagement regarding mercury pollution.

Implementation of Decisions MC-5/15:

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.16), the COP invites Parties to:

• continue their implementation of decision MC-5/15, including carrying out activities to address health concerns of women and children during the biennium 2026–2027, and to share with the Secretariat their related experiences and good practices; and
• provide comments, as appropriate, on possible activities to be carried out by the Secretariat, Parties, and other stakeholders during the biennium 2028–2029.
• The decision also requests the Secretariat to carry out activities to address health concerns of women and children, as listed in annex I to document UNEP/MC/COP.6/18 (as revised during COP-6), during the biennium 2026–2027. As revised, the list of activities includes developing, in consultation with youth, a Children and Youth Engagement Action Plan to mainstream youth engagement in the Convention.

The decision further requests the Secretariat to report to COP-7 on its implementation and to propose possible activities to be carried out by the Secretariat, Parties, and other stakeholders during the biennium 2028–2029.

 

Knowledge Management:

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/19), the COP:

• requests the Secretariat to continue implementation of the Convention’s digital strategy in accordance with the programme of work and budget;
• agrees to support the development of the Minamata Exchange Platform for the purpose of information exchange, subject to the availability of resources;
• work with the GMP to advance shared knowledge initiatives concerning mercury-related issues;
• encourages the Secretariat to continue cooperation and coordination activities with the GMP to advance shared knowledge initiatives concerning mercury-related issues, including the joint development of data products, communication tools, and knowledge platforms, while ensuring complementarity;
• requests the Secretariat to continue collaborating with the Secretariats of other MEAs and other partners, including the United Nations Information Portal on Multilateral Environmental Agreements initiative, on knowledge management, digitalization, and information exchange;
• requests the Secretariat to cooperate with the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Secretariat to exchange information and share experiences and best practices relating to knowledge management and digitalization; and
• requests the Secretariat to report on progress in the implementation of the digital strategy at COP-7.

 

Mercury and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.10), the COP:

• welcomes the Road Map for enhancing co-benefits from implementation of the Minamata Convention and the GBF by 2030 prepared by the Secretariat;
• encourages Parties and relevant stakeholders to undertake the actions suggested in the Road Map;
• encourages Parties, and invites other governments that have submitted notifications pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article 7 on ASGM, to integrate actions on reducing mercury pollution from ASGM into national biodiversity strategies and action plans;
• requests the Secretariat to initiate cooperation with the secretariat of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, without duplication of existing work under the Minamata Convention, with a view to exploring possible ways in which the work of the Platform might support the implementation of the Convention;
• encourages Parties to engage in the Bern Process and actively promote cooperation and policy coherence among MEAs at the national level; and
• requests the Secretariat, subject to the availability of resources, to contribute to the implementation of the Road Map and to continue its engagement in the Bern Process, in collaboration with other MEAs and UNEP, without creating new obligations for Parties and subject to adequate financial and technical support, particularly for developing countries.

 

Cooperation between the Minamata and the BRS Conventions:

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/22), the COP requests the Executive Secretary to:

• cooperate with the BRS Secretariat on relevant administrative, programmatic, scientific and technical, and technical assistance matters, in accordance with the programme of work and budget, and to explore ways of further strengthening cooperation and collaboration;
• continue to implement the sharing of services and of the purchase of relevant services with the BRS Secretariat on a cost recovery basis; and
• report on the implementation of the decision, including on a stable framework for cooperation and for the sharing of services, providing an outline of the cooperation activities planned under such a framework for the biennium 2028–2029, for consideration at COP-7.

International Cooperation and Coordination:

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.13), the COP requests the Secretariat to, inter alia:

• establish partnership and cooperation with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution, including seeking observer status;
• conduct a scoping study on how to strengthen the science-policy interface for mercury for consideration at COP-7;
• carry out activities that provide mutual benefits to the implementation of the Minamata Convention and the GFC and further enhance cooperation and coordination with the GFC Secretariat;
• take the necessary steps for membership and participation in the Inter-Organization Programme for Sound Management of Chemicals; and
• continue cooperation and coordination with the GMP, the CBD, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and UNICEF on issues of common interest, and with other international bodies in areas of relevance to the Minamata Convention.

Programme of Work and Budget

In its final decision (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.19/Add.1), the COP, inter alia:

• invites Parties to make every effort to pay any outstanding contributions as soon as possible;
• requests the Secretariat to report to COP-7 on the progress achieved owing to the efforts made by Parties;
• encourages Parties to the Convention, and invites non-Parties to the Convention and others in a position to do so, to contribute to the special trust fund; and
• requests the Executive Secretary to organize, subject to the availability of resources, a high-level event to mark the tenth anniversary of the Convention during the eighth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly.

The COP also requests the Executive Secretary to, inter alia:

prepare a budget for the biennium 2028–2029 for consideration by COP-7; and

• prepare a report, subject to the availability of resources, for consideration by COP-7, presenting options for cost saving measures.

Venue and Dates of COP-7

In its decision, the COP decides to hold the next COP in Geneva, Switzerland, from14–18 June 2027.

Adoption of Meeting Report and Closing

Mexico, for GRULAC, expressed satisfaction with the adoption of the decisions on dental amalgam, ASGM, trade, waste, and synergies with the GBF.

In closing, Executive Secretary Stankiewicz praised the success of COP-6, noting it “opened the door of another chapter of the mercury history book,” applauded the COP-6 President for his leadership both in plenary and in facilitating informal consultations, and recognized the leadership of the African Group on the successful phaseout of mercury-added products.

In closing remarks, President Álvarez, said “we managed to tackle every twist in our agenda with grace and maybe with just a little suspense,” applauded delegates for their flexibility and discipline, and said “you made sure the Convention is more inclusive, dynamic, and important than ever.”

President Álvarez declared COP-6 closed at 5:38 pm.