29/08/2017 (Agence Europe) – The Minamata convention seeks to protect public health and the environment against the effects of emissions and releases of mercury, a highly toxic heavy metal, and mercury compounds. It was ratified by the EU on 18 May of this year (see EUROPE 11792 and 11786) but it was ratification on 8 August by Brazil, the 74th party to do so, that brought it into force on 16 August. The first meeting of the parties to the Minamata convention will take place in Geneva from 24 to 29 September. The EU will be represented but several member states still have to complete their ratification procedures. Only 12 of the 28 member states have so far ratified the Convention (Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Latvia, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden). (AN)