——when the minamata convention on mercury entered into force
Vice minister of environmental protection zhao yingmin
On 16 August 2017, the minamata convention on mercury (hereinafter referred to as the mercury convention) entered into force, which is another important international convention in the field of chemicals, following the Stockholm convention on persistent organic pollutants.
Mercury and its compounds are widely used in chemical, instrumentation, batteries, lighting, medical devices and other fields. However, mercury released into the environment will exist for a long time, and can be transmitted over long distances through the atmosphere. In order to effectively deal with and properly solve the problem of global mercury pollution, China was one of the first signatories to the international community's agreement on a global legally binding mercury convention in October 2013 after arduous efforts by countries including China. In April 2016, the 20th meeting of the standing committee of the 12th National People's Congress ratified the mercury convention.
Over the years, China has actively participated in international environmental governance, played a constructive role in guiding the conclusion of the mercury convention, and received positive comments from the international community. At the same time, China has also made positive progress in the prevention and control of mercury pollution.
First, establish a performance mechanism. In 2017, the state council approved the establishment of a national coordination group for the implementation of mercury convention composed of the ministry of environmental protection and other ministries and commissions, forming a work pattern in which multiple departments assume their responsibilities and work together to promote the implementation of the mercury convention.
The second is to limit the elimination of key industries with mercury process. The catalogue of industrial structure adjustment guidance lists acetylene polyvinyl chloride as the restricted category, and the high-mercury catalyst (mercury content above 6.5% chloride) and the acetylene polyvinyl chloride production unit using the high-mercury catalyst as the elimination category. The outline of the 13th five-year plan further specified the requirement of "elimination of high-mercury catalyst acetylene process for polyvinyl chloride production".
The third is to control atmospheric mercury emissions. For the key industries of atmospheric mercury emission such as coal-fired power plants, industrial boilers, non-ferrous metal smelting and cement production, the standards for the discharge of atmospheric pollutants shall be established and improved, with mercury as the control index.
Fourth, limit the use and addition of mercury in products. In 1997, nine departments (units), including the former China light industry association and the former state economic and trade commission, issued policies to limit mercury content in battery products. At present, the common dry batteries in China have been basically mercury-free. In 2013, the ministry of environmental protection jointly promulgated policies by the development and reform commission, the ministry of industry and information technology and the ministry of finance to further promote the elimination of mercury containing products such as mercury hygrometers, thermometers and blood pressure gauges. Promote low - mercury and micro - mercury technology of fluorescent lamp.
Fifth, promote the recycling of mercury waste. During the 12th five-year plan period, 57,000 tons of waste mercury catalyst was recovered and about 120 million pieces of waste mercury lamp tubes were recovered and utilized by units with hazardous waste management licenses.
A good implementation of the mercury convention is conducive to strengthening the construction of ecological civilization, protecting public health and safeguarding environmental safety, and promoting industrial restructuring. In November 2016, the state council issued the 13th five-year plan for ecological and environmental protection, which clearly requires the strengthening of mercury pollution control, prohibits the construction of new projects using calcium carbide containing mercury process, and reduces the amount of mercury used per unit of products in the PVC industry by 50% from 2010 levels by 2020. We will strengthen controls on mercury pollution from key industries such as coal-fired power plants. The construction of new primary mercury mines is prohibited and the extraction of primary mercury is stopped step by step. Elimination of mercury containing thermometer, blood pressure gauge and other products.
As the largest developing country, China is a major producer and user of mercury. China is also a major producer and user of chemicals. While promoting the progress of human society, chemicals also bring the safety, health and environmental risks that cannot be ignored. It has become a global consensus and challenge to improve the management of chemicals and minimize the significant impact of their production and use on human health and the environment.
In the future, the ministry of environmental protection will continue to work with relevant ministries and commissions to actively promote the application and promotion of mercury-free low-mercury technology, to reduce mercury pollution and replace mercury products. We will continue to carry out environmental and health risk assessment of chemical substances, strictly limit the production and use of high-risk chemicals, and phase out substitutions, so as to promote a green development pattern and lifestyle in China. We are also willing to carry out extensive cooperation with the international community, learn advanced management concepts and technologies, share experience and contribute to the sustainable development of human society.