Minamata Convention COP-6: Global Mercury Policy

Nov 08, 2025By UNEP Minamata Convention on Mercury
UNEP Minamata Convention on Mercury

Minamata Convention COP-6 agrees to end the use of dental amalgam by 2034, marking a historic milestone in reducing mercury pollution.

UNEP Minamata Convention on Mercury | November 07, 2025

Introduction

The sixth Conference of the Parties (COP-6) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, held in Geneva in November 2025, resulted in a landmark agreement to phase out dental amalgam by 2034. The meeting brought together over 1,000 participants and adopted 22 decisions aimed at reducing global mercury use and emissions.  

This decision reflects a broader global shift away from mercury-dependent systems in both healthcare and industrial applications. Mercury exposure remains a persistent risk due to its toxicity, bioaccumulation, and long-term environmental impact.  

Despite international agreements, mercury use remains prevalent in artisanal mining regions, particularly where illegal gold mining continues and enforcement is limited →  

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Research Context

This article contributes to Bruce A. Cosgrove's broader research into mercury-free gold recovery, alternative extraction chemistry, and environmentally compatible mineral-processing systems →

The research examines plant-derived lixiviants, alternative complexation chemistry, solution behavior, mercury-reduction strategies, and lower-toxicity approaches to gold extraction and artisanal and small-scale mining.

🌿 Explore Mercury-Free Botanical Gold Recovery

Explore the research, publications, and applied chemistry behind botanical and alternative approaches to mercury- and cyanide-dependent gold-processing systems.

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