Global Overview of Countries Phasing Out Dental Amalgam: According to the Minamata Conventions Full National Reports 2021, the MIAs, or other official documents, the global transition to a mercury-free dentistry is fully underway…
The Ministry of Health announced key milestones in the country’s phase-out of dental amalgam in line with the Minamata Convention. Mercury is no longer being imported or marketed for dental use, and universities have stopped teaching dental amalgam as a filling material, while dental sector leaders signed an agreement to phase down its use. Argentina is not yet in a full prohibition phase, but it has effectively entered a de facto phase-out…
On Thursday, 19 March 2026 (13:00–14:30 CET), WHO will host the global launch of its new guideline: Environmentally friendly and less invasive oral health care for preventing and managing dental caries. The guideline provides evidence-based recommendations to support countries in preventing and managing dental caries through environmentally sustainable and less invasive approaches that promote patient safety, quality of care and environmental protection…
The federal agency that provides health care to Native Americans and Alaska Natives has announced it will phase out the use of dental fillings containing mercury. The agency will update its policies to eliminate amalgam dental restorations and invest in training and clinical infrastructure for composite and alternative restorations…
Croatia has amended its national legislation to implement the EU mercury Regulation (EU) 2024/1849 to phase out dental amalgam. The amendments clarify the responsibilities of inspection authorities, define penalties, and structure the mandatory reporting to the European Commission…
Six of the seven leading amalgam manufacturers in 2020 have withdrawn from the market—either ceasing production or announcing plans to do so in the near future—while smaller companies have taken over the shrinking market…
On 3 December 2025, legislation to phase out dental amalgam in Northern Ireland by 2034 entered into force following formal approval by the Westminster Parliament. The law implements the EU Mercury Regulation to phase out dental amalgam with a 10-year derogation granted under specific conditions by the European Commission, as part of the Windsor Framework arrangements that prevent a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland…
More than 150 countries, under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, have agreed to phase out dental amalgam by 2034 — a decision that will change dentistry around the world. This landmark step will lead to benefits for global health and environmental protection. WHO lists mercury as one of the top 10 chemical elements of major public health concern…
Experiences from European countries demonstrate successful pathways for the transition to mercury-free oral health care. As effective and affordable alternatives are available, the primary challenge remains, to establish financial arrangements with dentists to provide aesthetic fillings in public programs. It should be borne in mind that dental amalgam is far more expensive than most, if not all, alternative materials when the high environmental costs are taken into account…
The 20th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-20) decided to call upon African member States (that are Parties to the Minamata Convention) to implement the phase out of dental amalgam use for patients under fifteen years, pregnant and breastfeeding women and to submit a national phase out plan or a progress report within the stipulated timeline…