The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) has suspended the licenses of six beauty cream brands after they were found to be in violation of safety and quality standards, including the presence of hazardous substances such as mercury. Read the full post

The EcoWaste Coalition has detected mercury at over 30,000 parts per million (ppm) in a Pakistan-made facial cream that promises “fairer skin in two weeks” and is supposedly “safe to apply day and night.” The toxic watchdog group announced it has found high levels of mercury in Arena Gold New Fairness Cream for Men purchased online for P179, inclusive of shipping charges. Read the full post

Sri Lanka’s proposed legislation to regulate cosmetics marks a significant but overdue policy intervention with far-reaching implications for public health, trade, and the wider economy. The draft Cosmetics Regulation Bill, expected to be opened for public consultation in January 2026, reflects growing concern over the unregulated influx of cosmetic products into the country, particularly through informal and illicit channels. Read complete post

Walk into any cosmetic store across Pakistan you would be greeted with shelves filled with colorful promises of “instant glow”, “fairness in seven days”. Read full blog post

Popular skin-lightening products widely available on Amazon have been found to contain mercury levels far exceeding permissible limits, an assessment repeatedly highlighted by the New Delhi-based non-profit Toxics Link. Read the full post

At its 69th Council Meeting, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) approved a new work program that includes three major mercury-related projects across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2 June 2025 — In an effort to strengthen global efforts on mercury monitoring and control, a weeklong series of technical trainings and coordination events is underway from 2–6 June 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is implementing a Japan-funded project called “Project for promoting the Minamata Convention on Mercury by making the most of Japan's knowledge and experiences” to support its member states for the implementation of the Convention. The project has a special focus on the area of information exchange, awareness and education, research, development, and monitoring. 

World Health Organization Country Office for India (WHO India) hosted the inception meeting of the Project on Phasing Out Mercury-Measuring Services from Indian Healthcare on 17 December 2024, followed by the National Project Steering Committee meeting on 18 December 2024 in New Delhi.

The National Institute for Minamata Disease (NIMD), in collaboration with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is organizing laboratory proficiency testing (PT) for assessing the analytical capacity for mercury. The PT provides the individual proficiency levels of participating laboratories as well as collective mercury monitoring capacity in the region. UNEP is supporting this activity via the Japan-funded regional project in Asia and the Pacific.

The National Institute for Minamata Disease (NIMD), in collaboration with United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP ROAP), is organizing laboratory proficiency testing (PT) for assessing the analytical capacity for mercury. The PT provides the individual proficiency levels of participating laboratories as well as collective mercury monitoring capacity in the region.

Every week, Ibu Sugiyanti makes her way to the small-scale gold mining camp where she teaches mercury-free alternatives to other women miners. The site is located on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, in the village of Logas, an impressive biodiversity hotspot that is also home to hundreds of small-scale gold miners. Sugiyanti’s efforts aim to empower women and transform the way mining is approached in this vibrant corner of Sumatra. 

The Asia-Pacific Annual Webinar on Mercury Science 2021 held on 21 and 26 October 2021 provided latest update on the progress of the project for “promoting the Minamata Convention on Mercury by making the most of Japan's knowledge and experiences” implemented by the UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP). In light of the high level interest from participants in the forthcoming project activity on laboratory proficiency testing on mercury, UNEP ROAP is extending the invitation for expression of interest to mercury laboratories outside the Asia-Pacific region.

Across Myanmar, artisanal miners hunt for gold flecks in rivers and pit mines. The work is physically taxing and the income meagre. For many, the sprinkling of particles they find will only offer a few extra dollars of daily income.

The artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector accounts for 20 per cent of the world's annual gold production New $60-million initiative will improve conditions for artisanal miners in Mongolia and the Philippines, while slashing harmful mercury emissions As many as 15 million people work in the ASGM sector globally – including 4.5 million women and over 600,000 children The ASGM sector is the single largest source of man-made mercury emissions, responsible for the release of as muc