Representatives of some 130 countries began discussions Monday at a gathering in Chiba on formulating the first U.N. comprehensive treaty for reducing mercury releases to protect human health and the environment.

About 600 participants, including government officials and members of nongovernmental organizations, will discuss a draft treaty presented last fall by the U.N. Environment Program, which basically prohibits exports of mercury and sales of products using it, during the meeting through Friday. UNEP aims to adopt the treaty in 2013.

The participants are expected to take part in the second session of the UNEP Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, which will hold five more through early 2013. The first was in June in Stockholm.