Presidential Regulation Number 21 of 2019 concerning the National Action Plan for the Reduction and Elimination of Mercury.

This Presidential Regulation identifies mercury, used in small-scale gold mining, manufacturing, and energy production, as a hazardous and toxic substance, posing serious impacts on human and environmental health. Therefore, the Regulation outlines a National Action Plan, attached to the Regulation, aimed at reducing and eliminating mercury use, focusing on manufacturing, energy, small-scale gold mining, and healthcare sectors, and covering the period from 2018 to 2030. The National Action Plan emphasises: the importance of strengthening commitments, coordination, and cooperation among government bodies, agencies, and local authorities to effectively reduce and eliminate mercury use; the community involvement through communication, information dissemination, and education to support mercury reduction initiatives; the implementation of environmentally friendly technologies for gold processing to replace mercury usage. The National Action Plan focuses on: strengthening legal enforcement, to ensure compliance with mercury reduction and elimination provisions and with environmental standards; monitoring and evaluating the reduction and elimination of mercury; promoting good mining practices; efforts to rehabilitate mercury-contaminated land.