The health hazards caused by Minamata disease in 1956 to residents of Minamata City, Kumamoto County, are unprecedented in human history. The incident left Japan with long-term environmental and health problems, and therefore called on the international community to pay attention to the negative impact of Mercury to the global environment and human health. Immediate actions need to be taken by each country.
In 2002, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) published a “Global Mercury Assessment Report” on mercury-induced environmental pollution and health hazards on a worldwide scale. in 2009 UNEP also passed a resolution to formulate the legally binding international convention for global mercury issues.
Strengthening mercury management has become an international trend. In Taiwan, the EPA(Environmental Protection Administration) has invited the COA(Councils of Agriculture), the MOHW(Ministry of Health and Welfare), the MOEA(Ministry of Economic Affairs), the MOF(Ministry of Finance) and the MOL(Ministry of Labor) to jointly draw up the “UN Implementation plan of Minamata Convention” as a legal basis of domestic regulation on mercury issues.
In 2002, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) published a “Global Mercury Assessment Report” on mercury-induced environmental pollution and health hazards on a worldwide scale. in 2009 UNEP also passed a resolution to formulate the legally binding international convention for global mercury issues.
Strengthening mercury management has become an international trend. In Taiwan, the EPA(Environmental Protection Administration) has invited the COA(Councils of Agriculture), the MOHW(Ministry of Health and Welfare), the MOEA(Ministry of Economic Affairs), the MOF(Ministry of Finance) and the MOL(Ministry of Labor) to jointly draw up the “UN Implementation plan of Minamata Convention” as a legal basis of domestic regulation on mercury issues.