May 30, 2024

The deal is sealed: the EU mercury regulation is moving to the next stage

Today, the Council of the EU gave its final green light to the revised text of the Regulation on Mercury, sealing the deal and leading by example in the fight against mercury pollution in the EU and abroad. As a start, the revised text will put an end to the export […]
May 28, 2024

Natural beauty, colourful future: a call for a healthy skin for all

The desire for many dark-skinned women – and increasingly men – to whiten their complexion is rife, feeding a growing skin whitening industry estimated at USD 9.88 billion in 2021. This phenomenon speaks volumes of the long-lasting and pervasive impact of the discriminatory values of colonial times, which dictate a predominantly ‘white’ standard on beauty, […]
March 21, 2024

Support Grows for Ending Sales of Mercury Skin Lighteners on International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Today, as the United Nations highlights “the urgent need to address the harmful effects” of mercury added skin lightening products (SLPs) on the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21, advocates are calling on governments to enforce bans and collaborate globally to end the toxic beauty trade. […]
February 6, 2024

Open letter – Stop exports of EU banned mercury-added lamps to developing countries

In view of the negotiations happening under the revision of the EU Mercury regulation, the European Environmental Bureau, the Zero Mercury Working Group, CLASP and the Clean Lighting Coalition, supported by over 30 NGOs and networks, expressed their concerns on the ongoing exports of mercury added lamp. The letter sent to […]
November 10, 2023

Minamata Convention moves to end the use of mercury in cosmetics

Last week,115 Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury were present in Geneva for the fifth Conference of the Parties (COP-5) and took important decisions, among others, towards strengthening the Convention on phasing out mercury-added cosmetics.  Last week, 115 Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury were present in Geneva […]
November 7, 2023

UN Convention Agrees to Phase Mercury Out of Cosmetics by 2025

Last week,147 Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury gathered in Geneva for the fifth Conference of the Parties (COP-5) and adopted a 2025 treaty phase-out date for mercury-added cosmetics. Geneva, Switzerland—Last week,147 Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury gathered in Geneva for the fifth Conference of the Parties […]
October 19, 2023

Shocking EIA report exposed during a webinar: find here the slides presented by the panellists

Shocking EIA report exposes a global failure to prevent the deliberate addition of toxic mercury to skin lightening products. Today Thursday, October 19th a panel of experts presented new findings exposing the production and trade of mercury-added skin lightening products. An undercover investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has exposed the […]
October 17, 2023

New EIA report exposes a global failure to prevent the deliberate addition of toxic mercury to skin lightening products.

New EIA report exposes a global failure to prevent the deliberate addition of toxic mercury to skin lightening products. Washington, DC: For the first time ever, an undercover investigation by the EnvironmentalInvestigation Agency (EIA) has exposed key companies deliberately adding toxic mercury toskin lightening products (SLPs) and the mercury compound […]
October 12, 2023

Toxic mercury cosmetics still marketed as a ‘solution’ to dark skin

213 products tested from 23 online platforms across 12 countries 90% had more mercury than legal limit set by the Minamata Convention Africa’s proposed amendment would strengthen treaty by banning advertising and sales of such toxic products Minamata Convention (COP5) negotiators urged to strengthen existing treaty [Brussels/Belgium] Despite being banned […]
October 12, 2023

PETITION:  Make Mercury added cosmetics History! 

SIGN THE PETITION UNTIL THE 27 OCTOBER! Strengthen the Convention provisions to disallow sales and marketing of mercury-added skin lightening products   During the upcoming COP51 in late October, an amendment by the African Region2 has been proposed to strengthen existing Convention provisions that currently ban manufacture and trade of mercury added […]
October 4, 2023

Minamata Convention on Mercury COP5 – Farewell to fluorescents: sign the petition

In October, delegates representing 146 nations have the opportunity to say Farewell to Fluorescents and avoid a cumulative 178 metric tonnes of mercury pollution (lamps and power plant emissions). Transitioning to clean, energy-efficient LED lighting will eliminate the threat of lighting-related mercury exposure, alleviate strain on national power grids and ensure that people have […]
June 19, 2023

The EEB, Zero Mercury Working Group and CARICOM rally to phase out toxic mercury products in the Caribbean

The 6 and 7 June, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), The Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG), and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat have gathered 14 countries in the Caribbean to showcase the impressive efforts in phasing out mercury-added products in some of the countries in the region. The conference organisers […]
May 9, 2023

Africa Region Galvanizes Efforts to End Mercury Lighting

The African Region proposes a global ban on the manufacture and trade of all fluorescent lamps. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Contacts: Washington, DC: Ana Maria Carreño Director, Clean Lighting Coalition acarreno@clasp.ngo Phone/WhatsApp: +1 202 999 2886 Brussels: Elena Lymberidi-Settimo International Co-coordinator Zero Mercury Working Group & Policy Manager, European Environmental […]
May 9, 2023

Africa proposes treaty sales ban on mercury skin lighteners

The African Region takes the lead with a proposal to ban the sales of mercury-added cosmetics worldwide. Contact:  Rico Euripidou, E: rico@groundwork.org.za; T:  Leslie Adogame, E: ane_adogame@hotmail.com; T:  Michael Bender, E: mercurypolicy@aol.com; T: 1-802-917-8222; Charline Cheuvart, charline.cheuvart@eeb.org; T: +32 2 289 13 08 [Brussels, Belgium] Recently, the African Region proposed […]
February 14, 2023

‘Prime’ Time to Stop Online Sales of Illegal Mercury Skin-Lightening Products

Photo by ActionVance on Unsplash Groups make recommendations on verge of UN kick-off meeting on ‘Eliminating Mercury Skin Lightening Products’ at WHO-HQ in Geneva Geneva, Switzerland — Several mercury watchdog groups are calling on Amazon.com (and other e-platforms) to stop all sales of skin-lightening products (SLPs) if they cannot stop marketing […]
April 14, 2022

What happened at the second segment of the fourth Conference of the Parties for the Minamata Convention on Mercury?

The Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) participated at the COP 4.2 of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which took place in Bali, Indonesia from 21 to 25 March 2022. Its main priorities for COP4.2 included the following: COP4.2 made several decisions along the lines of the ZMWG recommendations, among others. […]
March 30, 2022

Convention on Mercury agrees to phase out major category of fluorescent light bulbs, but last-minute interventions delay action on another

CLiC Press Release Bali, Indonesia – At the Minamata Convention on Mercury fourth Conference of Parties (COP4), 137 governments adopted amendments to phase out a major category of fluorescent lighting, but actions were stalled on others. All fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury, a chemical of major public health concern according […]
March 30, 2022

UN Bans Mercury Satellite Propellants Under New Minamata Treaty Provisions

PEER/ZMWG Press release Bali, Indonesia—On Saturday, the United Nations adopted a provision to phase out the use of mercury as a satellite propellant by 2025 during the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.[i]  Public interest NGOs who have been following the issue […]
March 14, 2022

California Court Rules Amazon Must Protect Consumers

BERKELEY, CA—MARCH 14, 2022—The California Court of Appeals Friday ruled Amazon, the world’s largest store, must comply with consumer protection laws including warning California consumers when products sold on its marketplace contain chemicals listed by California as carcinogens or reproductive toxicants. As You Sow and other consumer advocates applauded the […]
March 10, 2022

Skin Lighteners Still Online Despite Mercury Findings

REPEAT OFFENDERS: Ebay, Amazon and Flipkart among websites selling high mercury skin lighteners, according to the Zero Mercury Working Group  271 online products tested from 17 countries: nearly half contained too much mercury  Some products had thousands of times more mercury than legal limit International coalition of NGOs* urge governments […]
November 12, 2021

ZMWG @ Minamata COP4.1

The Zero Mercury Working Group participated at the Minamata Convention COP4.1 Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation, it was agreed that the fourth Conference of the Parties (COP-4) would take place in two segments: a first segment (COP4.1) to be conducted online within the period of 1 to 5 November […]
ZMWG @ Minamata COP4.1
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