Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who identified himself at the start of his remarks, told delegates to the Minamata Convention on Mercury that the treaty's Article 4 phased out many mercury-added products but left thimerosal in vaccines untouched. "The Minamata Convention was born from a shared moral conviction that no human being should suffer from exposure to mercury," he said.

Kennedy said Article 4 "calls on parties to cut mercury use by phasing out listed mercury-added products," and he criticized negotiators for carving out thimerosal-containing vaccines from that phase-out. He framed the exemption as a double standard: "Why do we call it dangerous in batteries, in over-the-counter medications, and makeup, [but] acceptable in vaccines and dental fillings?" he asked.

He characterized thimerosal as a mercury-based preservative and asserted it had not undergone "proper safety testing in humans," calling it "a potent neurotoxin, a mutagen, a carcinogen, and an endocrine disruptor." "There is not a single study that proves it safe," he said. Those statements were presented by the speaker as his assessment and interpretation of peer-reviewed literature; the remarks in the meeting were not accompanied by citations in the transcript.

Kennedy said that "in July, the United States closed the final chapter on the use of thimerosal as a vaccine preservative," and he urged "every global health authority and every party to this convention to do the same." He also said manufacturers "have confirmed that they can produce mercury-free single dose vaccines without interrupting supply." These points were offered by the speaker as grounds for urging treaty parties and health authorities to act.

The remarks were a public statement and did not include requests for formal action by the convention, motions, or votes in the recorded transcript. Kennedy closed with an appeal to protect children and future generations from mercury exposure: "Let's honor and protect humanity and our children and creation from mercury."