Intersessional work and Submissions for COP-7

The COP adopted decision MC-6/1 inviting 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 to provide further information to the Secretariat with a view to its being shared with the Implementation and Compliance Committee for further consideration. Furthermore, Parties, including those benefiting from ongoing projects of the GEF, are encouraged 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. 

In decision MC-6/1 the COP also requested the Secretariat to develop, in collaboration with parties and organizations with expertise on illegal trade, and subject to the availability of resources, a report presenting strategies for addressing the supply and trade of mercury for parties not in compliance with Article 3. In preparing the report, the Secretariat shall: (a) Utilize information collected from parties and other relevant sources; (b) Take into account information on strategies to prevent the diversion of mercury from foreign and domestic sources for use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing, as contained in national action plans on artisanal and small-scale gold mining submitted by parties in accordance with paragraph 3 (b) of article 7; (c) Invite contributions from Parties, the Implementation and Compliance Committee and other stakeholders.

The Secretariat was further requested to continue to provide advice and conduct awareness-raising and technical assistance activities to strengthen the capacity of parties to fulfil their trade-related obligations under Article 3.

In decision MC-6/1, the COP also requested the Implementation and Compliance Committee to: (a) assess the reasons that parties have provided as indications that they face challenges in implementing trade-related provisions under article 3 and consider whether recommendations that go beyond the actions already taken by the Conference of the Parties at its fifth and sixth meetings might be beneficial for improving implementation; (b) cooperate, as needed, with compliance bodies of other multilateral environmental agreement.

COP-6 invited the Secretariat to develop guidance for the consistent use of Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System codes related to mercury-containing goods, specifically mercury, mercury compounds and mercury waste.

In response to decision MC-6/1, the Secretariat is strengthening collaboration with organizations with expertise on illegal trade, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the World Customs Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the member organizations of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals, the secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, and relevant global and regional enforcement networks to assist parties in preventing and combating illegal trade in mercury.

Parties, other governments and stakeholders in position to do so are invited to provide funding and in-kind contribution to support the Secretariat in the implementation of decision MC-6/1.

The COP, in decision MC-6/2, encouraged Parties and stakeholders to reflect on the information contained in the report on the global supply, production, trade and use of mercury compounds (UNEP/MC/COP.6/5/Add.1 and UNEP/MC/COP.6/INF/5), and to consider the need for an additional annex that would make mercury compounds subject to the trade provisions of paragraphs 6 and 8 of article 3. 

Parties and stakeholders are invited to submit on a voluntary basis, by 31 March 2026, available information on the supply, use and trade of mercury compounds, and to share their views and input on possible mercury compounds which could be listed in a proposed annex. Submission should be sent to the Secretariat by email. 

The COP also decided to establish an open-ended expert group with a mandate to consider the information in the report on the global supply, production, trade and use of mercury compounds and the information submitted as mentioned above, working in English in an online setting. National Focal Points may wish to nominate one or more experts, attaching a curriculum vitae. Observers to the COP may also wish to nominate experts. Nominations are to be sent to the Secretariat by email. Online meetings will be convened after March 2026. 

The following submissions have been received: 

• Australia
• Burkina Faso
• Cameroon (letter and attachment)
• Canada
• Japan
• Portugal
• Senegal (original and discussion note)
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• Environment and Social Development Organization
• International Pollutants Elimination Network (attachment 1, attachment 2, attachment 3)
• Natural Resources Defense Council

The list of members of the open-ended expert group can be accessed here.

The COP, in decision MC-6/4, encouraged Parties without national legislation or other measures, or otherwise facing challenges in implementing their obligations regarding mercury-added cosmetics, to inform the secretariat and to consider the application of Article 14 (Capacity building, technical assistance and technology transfer and/or 15 (Implementation and Compliance Committee) to their situation. Information is to be submitted to the Secretariat by email. The Executive Secretary sent a letter to invite Parties and stakeholders to submit information by 30 June 2026.

The COP amended Annex A to the Convention three times with regard to dental amalgam. COP-4 amendment added a requirement against the use of mercury in bulk form by dental practitioners and the use of dental amalgam for children and pregnant/breastfeeding women. COP-5 amendment required Parties that have not phased out dental amalgam to submit a national action plan or a report every four years as part of national reporting under Article 21. COP-6 amendment established the phase-out date of 2034 for manufacturing, import and export of dental amalgam, and required parties that have not phased out to take measures to not allow or significantly phase down dental amalgam. COP-6 decision allows the use of dental amalgam when it is considered necessary by the dental practitioner based on the needs of the patients. 

National action plans or reports pursuant to COP-5 amendment are to be submitted to the Secretariat either by 31 December 2025 as part of the full national report, or by 31 December 2027 as part of the short national report. 

The COP, in decision MC-6/13, requested the Secretariat to prepare a draft guidance on developing a national action plan to phase out dental amalgam, for consideration by COP-7.

Under Article 7, Parties whose artisanal and small‑scale gold mining is more than insignificant and who have notified the Secretariat must develop and implement National Action Plans (NAPs) to reduce, and where feasible, eliminate the use of mercury in ASGM. COP‑6, in decision MC‑6/8, agreed on several intersessional activities to support this work ahead of COP‑7.

During the 2026–2027 intersessional period, work will include:

• Submission of ASGM National Action Plans (NAPs) 
  Parties whose NAP submission deadlines have passed or are upcoming are requested to submit their plans to the Secretariat in accordance with Article 7 (paragraph 3).
• Review of the implementation of Article 7 
  Parties that have submitted NAPs are called upon to review progress and include this information in their national reports under Article 21, using the reporting template contained in annex 7 to the amended guidance (MC/COP.6/7/Add.1). The next short national report is due on 31 December 2027.
• Use of the provisional guide on the effective engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities 
  Parties developing, implementing or reviewing their NAPs are invited to make use of the Provisional guide on the effective engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (UNEP/MC/COP.6/INF/11) and to provide feedback to the Secretariat on their experience with its use.
• Submission of information on supply‑chain transparency 
  Parties and relevant stakeholders are invited to submit information on comparative experiences with supply‑chain transparency and certification and how these may help reduce mercury use in ASGM and strengthen accountability of buyers and intermediaries. The Secretariat will issue a dedicated call for submissions.
• Voluntary contributions to the Special Trust Fund 
  Parties, other governments and stakeholders in a position to do so are invited to provide financial or in‑kind contributions to support the compilation of comparative experiences and the preparation of the stock‑taking report for COP‑7.  

COP has established mercury waste thresholds pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 11 in decisions MC-3/5, 4/6 and 5/10. COP-7 is to further consider this matter.

As decided by COP in decision MC-5/10 and 6/9, Parties and relevant stakeholders are invited to submit, as appropriate, any proposed updates to the lists in Tables 1, 2 and 3 of the annex to decision MC-3/5.

Parties are requested to take the actions agreed on in decision MC-5/10 to facilitate the implementation of Article 11. Specific actions include:

• A Party making use of the alternative approach described in paragraph 2 of Decision MC-5/10 is to submit to the Secretariat its documented waste management measures as described in that paragraph.
• Parties and relevant stakeholders are invited to submit any scientific and regulatory data and information on the effectiveness of the threshold established in Decision MC-5/10 in protecting human health and the environment, as well as on challenges and experiences related to its use, for the Secretariat to compile for consideration by COP-7

All the submissions above are to be sent to the Secretariat by email as soon as possible but no later than 6 March 2027. 

As noted in decision MC-6/9, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention is updating the technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with mercury or mercury compounds. The draft update was submitted to the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention as UNEP/CHW/OEWG.15/INF/11.

COP-6 adopted  decision MC-6/10, supplementing the guidance to the GEF set out in decision MC-1/5 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 funded activities to implement the provisions of the Convention. Respective programming of resources is expected to start in GEF-9 (July 2026-June 2030 replenishment period) based on technical guidance to be developed by the GEF in consultation with the Secretariat.

The COP also requested the Secretariat to work with the Governing Board of the Specific International Programme to finalize the draft analysis of the related funding and staffing needs for a potential extension of the Specific International Programme to Support Capacity-Building and Technical Assistance for an additional period not exceeding seven years and prepare draft recommendations for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its seventh meeting.

Furthermore, through decision MC-6/11, COP-6 adopted the terms of reference for the third review of the financial mechanism of the Convention to be prepared for COP-7 consideration. Parties, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and stakeholders are invited to submit information, consistent with the terms of reference for the review and organized according to the listed performance criteria, on their experience gained through their interactions with the financial mechanism, as soon as possible and not later than 30 April 2026. 

COP-6 in decision MC-6/12 encourages Parties, in their national reports pursuant to article 21, 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. In relation to this, the secretariat was requested, subject to the availability of resources, to further collect and analyse information on existing initiatives and progress made in relation to alternative technologies, as well as related needs and challenges.

COP-6 also called on Parties, and invited non-parties to the Convention and others in a position to do so, to contribute to the special trust fund of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, 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 (activity 4); and requests the secretariat, subject to the availability of resources, to continue to provide capacity-building and technical assistance support to parties pursuant to paragraph 1 of article 14. 

Effectiveness evaluation Group (EEG)

At its fifth meeting, in decision MC-5/14, the COP established the Effectiveness Evaluation Group (EEG) to work in accordance with the terms of reference outlined in annex I to the decision and agreed to consider the outcome of the first effectiveness evaluation of the Convention at its seventh meeting tentatively scheduled to take place in 2027. In the same decision, the COP adopted the indicators for the first effectiveness evaluation as contained in annex II to the decision.

In accordance with its terms of reference, the EEG is composed of 25 participants from Parties, comprising five representatives of Parties from each of the five United Nations regions, and nominated by the regions. The list of EEG members can be accessed here.

The co-chairs of the Open-ended Scientific Group (see below) and the Chair of the Implementation and Compliance Committee will be invited to participate in the EEG as observers. Moreover, five observers from developed and developing countries will also be invited, drawing from civil society, Indigenous organizations, local community organizations, intergovernmental organizations, industry and the Global Mercury Partnership, to contribute to the work of the EEG. Additional observers may be invited on an ad hoc basis.

The Effectiveness Evaluation Group will work online and will hold up to two face-to-face meetings. 

The co-Chairs of the Effectiveness Evaluation Group are Ms. Kateřina Šebková, from Czechia, and Mr. Linroy Christian, from Antigua and Barbuda.

The EEG will hold its first face-to-face meeting in Geneva from 9 to 11 February 2026.  Meeting documents are available here.

Open-Ended Scientific Group  (OESG)

The Open-Ended Scientific Group was established pursuant to decision MC-4/11. The current list of OESG members and experts in the roster to contribute to its work is available here. Parties that have not nominated a member may wish to submit a nomination by sending the nomination form to the Secretariat. Parties and stakeholders may also wish to nominate experts to the roster by completing an online form, or using the same nomination form available above. 

The OESG, co-chaired by Ms. Alexandra Steffen (Canada) and Mr. Dominique Bally Kpokro (Côte d’Ivoire), submitted plans for its work to COP-5, and a report "Overview of monitoring, emission and release data" to COP-6. 

The co-chairs presented a draft scientific report at the first face-to-face meeting of the Effectiveness Evaluation Group. The draft report has since been further elaborated and is available for an eight-week review by Parties:

• Draft OESG Scientific Report (PDF and Word versions)
• Annex 2-4: Air
• Annex 2-5: Biota
• Annex 3: Multimedia case studies

Parties and other stakeholders may submit comments to mea-minamatasecretariat [at] un.org no later than 8 June 2026. There is no template for comments, but line numbers should be indicated in the comments.

The OESG continues to work on its report on gaps and lessons learned. The draft report will be posted on the website for review when it is ready.

COP‑6, in decision MC‑6/15, building on work initiated under COP‑5 (MC-5/1) encouraged strengthened and effective engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the work of the Convention, particularly those from regions disproportionately impacted by mercury pollution.

During the 2026–2027 intersessional period, work under this decision includes the following activity directed to Parties and stakeholder:

• Voluntary contributions to the Special Trust Fund 
  Parties, other governments and stakeholders in a position to do so are invited to provide financial or in‑kind support to enable the effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in meetings and activities under the Convention. Offers of support may be sent to the Secretariat at the email address provided below. Contributors are encouraged to do so as soon as possible, taking into account the timing of relevant meetings, and preferably by the end of June 2027. 

Priority activities agreed at COP-6

In decision MC-6/16 on addressing health concerns of women and children, COP-6 requested the Secretariat to carry out the following activities to implement the gender action plan during the 2026-2027 biennium:

• (a) Supporting the integration and monitoring of strategies to prevent the exposure of vulnerable populations, particularly children and women of childbearing age, especially pregnant women, to mercury used in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, as appropriate, in the reviews of national action plans to be submitted by parties pursuant to paragraph 3 (c) of article 7, in collaboration with the Chemicals and Health Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme;
• (b) Supporting the coordination of the women’s caucus of the Minamata Convention on Mercury to advance the equality and empowerment of women in the implementation of the Convention;
• (c) Collecting information from parties and other stakeholders on capacity-building needs and interests with respect to mercury exposure of women and children.

In the same decision, COP-6 also invite Parties to carry out the following activities during the 2026-2027 biennium:

• (a) Integrating and monitoring the implementation of strategies to prevent the exposure of vulnerable populations, particularly children and women of childbearing age, especially pregnant women, to mercury used in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, as appropriate, in the reviews of national action plans to be submitted pursuant to paragraph 3 (c) of article 7;
• (b) Providing financial resources to support the participation of representatives of the women’s caucus in the meetings of the Conference of the Parties to advance the equality and empowerment of women in the implementation of the Convention;
• (c) Developing, in consultation with youth, a Children and Youth Engagement Action Plan to mainstream youth engagement in the Convention;
• (d) Responding to requests for information to enable the secretariat to identify capacity -building needs and interests of parties with respect to the implementation of decision MC-5/15, including on the exposure of women and children to mercury.

Building on decision MC-5/16, COP-6 mandated, through decision MC-6/17, continued implementation of the Digital Strategy, prioritizing future activities such as potential use of artificial intelligence, maintaining the Convention website as the primary information source, and advancing cost-effective platforms for knowledge exchange, while requesting continued collaboration with multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), the Global Mercury Partnership (GMP) and InfoMEA.

Parties, other governments and stakeholders in a position to do so are invited to provide funding to support the implementation of decision MC-6/17. 

Through decision MC-6/18, COP-6 welcomed the road map for enhancing co-benefits from implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by 2030 (available in section III of document UNEP/MC/COP.6/20) and encouraged parties and other relevant stakeholders to carry out the actions suggested in the road map.

COP-6 also encouraged parties, and invites other Governments that have submitted notifications pursuant to paragraph 3 of article 7 on artisanal and small-scale gold mining, to make use of the technical support document prepared by the secretariat on integrating action to reduce mercury pollution from artisanal and small-scale gold mining into national biodiversity strategies and action plans aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (UNEP/MC/COP.6/INF/27).

Parties are further encouraged to engage in the Bern process and actively promote cooperation and policy coherence among multilateral environmental agreements at the national level.  

Parties, other governments and stakeholders in a position to do so are invited to provide funding to support the implementation of decision MC-6/18.