DECISION OF THE MEETING - Nineteenth Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean and its Protocols; Guidelines on Best Environmental Practices (BEP) for the Environmental Sound Management (ESM) of Mercury Contaminated Sites

Adopt the Guidelines on best environmental practices for the management of mercury contaminated sites. The guidelines set out the legal framework and provide guidance on the identification of the contaminated sites and impacts, the characterization of the sites, the assessment of risks and impacts and the remediation of the sites; Urge the Contracting Parties to take the necessary measures to ensure the ESM of Mercury contaminated sites including at least the old mines and decommissioned chlor-alkali plants are in line with the Guidelines and to report on the implementation of the Regional Plan; Encourage all Contacting Parties to ratify the Minamata Convention.