In his opening speech on September 10, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Bui Cach Tuyen said Vietnam faces a risk of mercury contamination in the air, water resources and from trans-border activities, making it difficult for relevant agencies to monitor and control mercury contamination, as well as in international cooperation.
 

Mercury monitoring has not received due attention in Vietnam, except for several special programmes and certain research conducted to assess and control mercury emissions in the environment.

Currently, Vietnam is setting up a network to gradually monitor and control mercury pollution in water, Tuyen said.

Vietnam has been invited to join the Asia-Pacific Mercury Monitoring Network (APMMN) to share experience and enhance the national capacity for mercury monitoring.

After joining the Minamata Convention on Mercury in October 2013, Vietnam has paid serious attention to monitoring, controlling mercury pollution and reducing mercury emissions. It expects to have more legal tools for controlling the pollution in the future.

The Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) will carry out more activities to exchange information and improve knowledge of the issue for relevant agencies in order to control mercury pollution and implement the Minamata Convention effectively, Tuyen said.

The three-day workshop is co-organised by the VEA, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US National Atmospheric Deposition Programme and the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration.