Moldova pledged to stop the import and use of products that contain mercury by ratifying the Minamata Convention on Mercury. In particular, the Convention specifies the products that contain mercury and the date when the fabrication, import or export of these should be stopped. In an event held to mark the ratification of the Convention, Minister of Environment Valeriu Munteanu said there are sufficient studies showing that the mercury is extremely dangerous to people’s hearth and environment equally, IPN reports.
The minister noted that the legislation that bans the import and sale of products with mercury in Moldova was already adopted and the authorities intend to fully remove the mercury-containing products from circulation. “We have about 2 billion light bulbs with mercury in different institutions. These should be collected and recycled. For the purpose, a state center will be set up to prepare the infrastructure for processing these products free of charge. The bulbs and thermometers that are still being used will be taken to a line where the mercury will be removed, stored and transported,” stated the minister.
The representative of the United Nations Environment Program Giovanna Chiodi Moiré said over 40 states have ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury and thanked the Moldovan authorities for joining in this global commitment.
Tatiana Tugui, manager of the Office for Environmental Pollution Prevention of the Ministry of Environment, said the mercury migrates from the environment to the table of consumers through different products. Fish absorbs very well mercury from water. The mercury has a negative impact on the nervous system. Children are especially vulnerable.
Though the Republic of Moldova does not produce mercury, a series of products containing mercury are sold on the domestic market, such as fluorescent tubes, batteries and measuring devices. These are dangerous if they are not handled appropriately.
