Minamata Convention COP-6 agrees to end the use of dental amalgam by 2034

The sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-6) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3 to 7 November 2025.

Key Outcomes

• 22 decisions adopted to further the Convention’s goal of protecting human health and the environment from mercury pollution.
• The most significant decision was the adoption of new amendments to Annex A, which:
  👉 Phases out dental amalgam globally by 2034 — a move hailed as a historic milestone in the fight against mercury pollution.

About the Minamata Convention

• The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global environmental treaty aimed at controlling, reducing, and eliminating mercury throughout its life cycle — from mining to waste disposal.
• It seeks to protect human health and ecosystems from the harmful effects of mercury exposure.
• The Convention is named after Minamata Bay in Japan, where, in the mid-20th century, mercury-contaminated industrial wastewater caused severe poisoning and neurological disorders — later known as “Minamata disease.”
• The treaty entered into force on 16 August 2017.
• India ratified the Convention in 2018.

About Mercury (Hg)

• Symbol: Hg
• Atomic number: 80
• Appearance: Silvery-white liquid metal — one of the few elements that is liquid at room temperature.
• Sources: Naturally occurring, but human activities such as coal burning, industrial processes, and waste incineration have significantly increased its environmental levels.
• Health impact: Exposure, especially to methylmercury, can damage the nervous system, and is particularly dangerous for developing fetuses and young children.

Source: UNEP