Mercury Action in China

Focus Areas

By Mercury Convention Implementation Division | 09. 01, 2013

The aims and missions of the Mercury Convention Implementation Division are:

To compile and implement the "Minamata Convention on Mercury" and its national implementation plan; to choose, prepare and get approval for the mercury convention implementation projects, coordinate, manage and supervise the process of the projects; to assist MEP in drawing national and industrial relevant polices, regulations and management procedures of mercury convention implementation; to carry out the specific work of mercury convention implementation.

1. Attended the national mercury problem tackling, assisted the MEP in building the kernel mechanism of future fulfillment of obligations under the international mercury convention and rationalized its relationship with relevant ministries and commissions, other business departments of MEP and trade associations.

2. Provided technical support with China’s participation in relevant meetings like convention negotiation meetings, conference of parties and regional consultations as focus.

a) assisted the MEP to be authorized by the State Council to take the lead in mercury convention negotiation.

b) supported convention negotiation, involved in the discussion and drafting of two negotiation counterproposals and held and participated in several meetings and talks.

3. Made efforts in China to lay foundation for future fulfillment of the convention

a) conducted survey and sought technical support in different industries

b) provided support for key tasks of MEP

c) provided technical support to MEP

The following projects are carried out:

Mercury instrument negotiation policy research

Key support technology and coping measures for mercury pollution control negotiation

International law policy comparison and coping measures formulation for mercury instrument negotiation

Primary mercury production industries management measures research

Prescription of mercury limit standard in fluorescent light

Domestic and foreign mercury monitoring technology application and current management situation research

Social, environmental and economic benefits of shutting down mercury mining industry and relevant coping suggestion for mercury convention negotiation

Chlor-alkali and PVC industry pollution prevention and control technology policy

Best available technology guide for mercury-bearing waste disposal and pollution control

Screening research on mercury substitution and reduction technology in mercury emission source

4. Explored new fields of international cooperation

a) policy and strategy field: reached cooperation intent with many countries and international organizations through repeated exchanges and discussions: Canada, Sweden, Germany, the Netherland, the US, UNIDO and UNEP.

b) Technical assistance field: conducted discussions and exchanges with the US, Canada, Sweden and Germany on many aspects like inventory methodology, environment risk evaluation, comparison of vinyl chloride production techniques of using ethylene and acetylene.

c) Capacity building field: China-Canada, China-Sweden and China-Germany cooperation will be strengthened

The following projects are carried out:

Mercury pollution reduction capacity building (coal burning, zinc smelting and contaminated site restoration)

Mercury pollutant reduction and non-hazardous disposal in zinc smelting industry

Pilot mercury emission inventory compiling in typical provinces

Research on feasibility of PVC production by calcium carbide process without mercury catalyst

Mercury pollution control and management capacity building (non-ferrous metal smelting and mercury-containing medical apparatus and instruments)

Poisonous and hazardous pollution of lighting product analysis and management measures research

Improvement of awareness in managing mercury-bearing waste among households and communities

5. Actively promoted and implemented projects

a) launched and implemented China-Norway cooperation: phase II of mercury pollution reduction capacity building project

b) promoted the project of prescribing mercury limit standard in fluorescent light

c) got the project of screening research on mercury substitution and reduction technology in mercury emission source approved

d) got the project of international law policy comparison and coping measures formulation for mercury instrument negotiation approved

e) signed the project of UNEP- awareness improvement in managing mercury-bearing waste among households and communities

f) UNEP-project of research on feasibility of PVC production by calcium carbide process without mercury catalyst in China

g) conducted survey on south-to-north water diversion project

6. Made more efforts in propaganda with real effects achieved and influences increased

Planned and arranged the “Exhibition Room of Staying away from the Hazard of Mercury”.

Built the website of “China-Norway Cooperation on Mercury Project”.

Completed the main design and creation of the website of “China Mercury Restriction and Control”.

Designed and completed 2 issues of Global Mercury Dynamic Work Communication.