What are Mercury-added Products?
The Minamata Convention on Mercury defines a mercury-added product as a “product or product component that contains mercury or a mercury compound that was intentionally added.”
What Do You Need to Know about Mercury-added Products?
Article 4 of the Convention prohibits the manufacture, import, or export of specific mercury-added products after 2020. The Convention also requires a phase down of the use of mercury in dental amalgam. This booklet features some of those products, and offers insights and references for further discussion. In addition, we relate the importance of Article 11, which addresses mercury wastes.
For each product category represented in this publication, we note: Minamata Convention requirements; examples of countries that may have significant concern regarding such products or are finding innovative ways to address mercury
issues; and mercury-free options where applicable. We also mention ongoing projects that help reduce the risk of mercury
from these products, including potential options for “end-of-life” management for some of these products.
