2 July 2012: The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Prepare a Global Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury (INC 4) met to continue negotiating the text of a treaty to regulate mercury use and reduce its environmental and health impacts. Progress was made on some issues, including mercury storage, wastes and contaminated sites, and options were narrowed on other issues, such as information and reporting.

During the negotiation, which took place from 27 June-2 July 2012, in Punta del Este, Uruguay, delegates discussed a draft text reflecting work at INC 3, the result of work during the intersessional period, and several proposals by countries. INC 4 was the fourth of five meetings that are scheduled to convene prior to the 27th session of the UN Environment Programme’s Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (UNEP GC/GMEF) in February 2013, where the negotiations are expected to conclude in time for adoption of the treaty at a Diplomatic Conference to be held in Minamata, Japan, in October 2013.

Despite some progress, divergent views prevailed on the most crucial issues – compliance, finance and control measures for products and processes – with discussions focusing on laying out the range of positions. A full reading of the text, and division of work into several contact groups addressing key sections of the treaty, allowed delegates to advance towards a “cleaner” version of a convention text on some issues, leaving brackets around topics that require political resolution for consideration at the next, and last, session of the INC in January 2013. [IISD RS Meeting Coverage] [INC 4 Summary]