Final workshop for the pilot project on eliminating mercury-added skin lightening products in Sri Lanka, Jamaica and Gabon

On 26–27 February 2026, representatives from governments, international organizations, research institutions and civil society gathered in Panama City, Panama, for the Closing Global Workshop of the GEF 10810 Project Eliminating Mercury Skin-Lightening Products. Organized by PAHO in coordination with UNEP, WHO, BRI, and the Governments of Jamaica and Panama, the event marked the culmination of four years of collaborative action to address the health and environmental risks posed by mercury-added skin-lightening products.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from participating countries—including Gabon, Jamaica and Sri Lanka—to reflect on achievements, share lessons learned, and identify pathways for sustaining and scaling progress beyond the project’s closure. Discussions focused on strengthening legislation and enforcement, improving market surveillance and laboratory testing, addressing online sales, engaging supply chains, and advancing behaviour change initiatives to reduce demand for harmful products.

Participants highlighted significant project achievements, including enhanced regulatory frameworks, strengthened national capacities for monitoring and testing, development of a global database of mercury-containing skin-lightening products, improved customs and enforcement mechanisms, and the creation of behavioural insights tools to support public health interventions. The workshop also emphasized the importance of continued multi-stakeholder collaboration, public awareness, and integration of project outcomes into national health, environment and chemical safety strategies.

The event concluded with a shared commitment to build on the project’s successes and continue global efforts to eliminate mercury-added skin-lightening products, protect human health and the environment, and promote positive, inclusive perceptions of beauty.