The Minamata Convention Secretariat published the COP-6 working document UNEP/MC/COP.6/6 (dated 28 July 2025) containing proposed amendments to Annex A (mercury-added products), including context and draft text used to support COP consideration and decision-making. This is not itself a binding change, but is an authoritative pre-decision document relevant for tracking potential future treaty obligations (e.g., amendments affecting products such as dental amalgam measures).
Hong Kong enacted the Mercury Control Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Notice 2025 to give effect to the amendments adopted at COP-4 and COP-5 of the Minamata Convention. The amendment updates Schedule 3 to align local mercury product restrictions with the Convention's expanded product bans and phase-out timelines.
Hong Kong has established a grace period until January 31, 2029 for the supply of newly regulated mercury-added products under the Mercury Control Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Notice 2025. Additionally, it is now an offence to supply cosmetics with mercury content exceeding 1 ppm, or with mercury content not exceeding 1 ppm if documentation cannot confirm the mercury was not intentionally added during manufacturing. Companies must maintain supporting documents to demonstrate compliance with the non-intentional addition requirement.
The Minamata Convention Secretariat amendments page indicates that the COP-5 amendments to Annexes A and B entered into force on 25 April 2025 (subject to treaty mechanics). This is a treaty-level in-force status update relevant to Parties’ and stakeholders’ implementation planning for amended mercury-added products and manufacturing process controls referenced on the amendments page.
The COP-5 amendments to Annex A of the Minamata Convention on Mercury entered into force on April 25, 2025, creating binding phase-out obligations for all 153 Parties. The amendments prohibit mercury-added products including all batteries with intentionally added mercury, all switches and relays containing mercury (except for R&D purposes), and all fluorescent lamps for general lighting (CFLs, LFLs, NFLs) with phase-out deadlines through 2027. The amendments also eliminate the previous 1 ppm threshold for mercury in cosmetics, establishing zero tolerance for mercury-added cosmetics including skin-lightening products. Manufacturing processes using mercury catalysts in polyurethane production (deadline 2025) and sodium/potassium methylate or ethylate production (deadline 2028) are also subject to phase-out requirements.
The UK enacted The Control of Mercury (Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025 No. 1189), which amends enforcement provisions for mercury control regulations. This complements the substantive Control of Mercury (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and establishes the enforcement framework for Minamata Convention implementation in the UK.
Singapore NEA will prohibit the manufacture, import and export of 6 mercury-added products including compact fluorescent lamps (>30 watts), non-integrated ballast CFLs, linear halophosphate lamps, non-linear fluorescent lamps, cold cathode fluorescent lamps, and external electrode fluorescent lamps. Four products have phase-out date of 1 January 2027, with remaining products phased out per Minamata Convention timelines.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1849 amends the EU Mercury Regulation (2017/852) to prohibit the import and manufacturing of dental amalgam from 1 July 2026. This implements the EU's obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury regarding the phase-out of mercury-added products. The regulation represents a significant step in eliminating mercury use in dentistry, with the EU moving ahead of the global 2034 phase-out deadline established at Minamata COP-6. Dental practices, medical device manufacturers, and healthcare suppliers must transition to mercury-free alternatives by the implementation date.