Minamata Convention

The Republic of Serbia signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2014. According to the national planning documents, its ratification is expected by 2018. Complementary to the process of approximation to the environmental acquis, its ratification will create new obligations for Republic of Serbia, and consequently- affect legal and administrative framework, as well as implementation policies and practices relevant for chemicals and particularly - mercury management.

The objective of this project is to support Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection in preparation of Mercury Initial Assessment, through:

1. Establishment of National Mercury Inventory (a qualitative and quantitative National Inventory of all mercury sources and releases) and Initial National Assessment, in line with GEF and UNDP guidelines and using the UNEP Toolkit for identification and quantification of mercury releases;
2. Development of recommendations for maintainance/integration of Mercury related issues and priorities into national/sectoral/regional development related plans and strategies
3. Support government counterparts in identifying the most pressing Mercury priorities and preparing an action plan for their integration in national strategies and plans.

More precisely, these outputs will facilitate the:

• National decision-making process toward ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury (providing relevant ministries with strong arguments for the ratification of the Minamata Convention and prioritization of mercury management on the national agenda).
• Building of technical and institutional capacity regarding the establishment of mercury management system
• Complying with the reporting obligations of the Convention and to monitoring its implementation, upon its ratification.
• Awareness raising on new obligations arising out of the Convention, targeting both- national and non-public stakeholders