The Environment Ministry on March 7 adopted a new policy concerning official recognition of people as sufferers of Minamata disease — Japan's most serious pollution-induced illness — which is caused by organic mercury.

At first glance, the new policy appears to relax criteria for the recognition of Minamata disease sufferers, but this is not the case. It contains severe conditions that will likely preclude it from helping a large number of victims. The government should change the standards for official recognition so more Minamata victims, who have suffered greatly, can receive much needed financial assistance.

The new policy follows an April 2013 Supreme Court ruling that stated people who exhibit only "sensation" disorders could be recognized as Minamata disease victims. The ruling is much less strict than the criteria the government adopted in 1977 — which say that people must display sensation disorders as well as other symptoms, including reduction of their field of vision, to be recognized as Minamata disease victims.