Nominated by the European Network for Environmental Medicine : Nepal and Tanzania are in the running for prestigious policy prize
Nepal
The Nepali law is the first in Asia to ban the use of dental amalgam fillings for children under 15 years and pregnant and nursing women while aiming at a complete phase out as soon as possible. Dental amalgam consists of approximately 50% mercury, a heavy metal toxic to the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, especially for developing children. Thanks to the law, most Nepali dentists have now shifted to alternatives like glass ionomer cement, significantly reducing the risk of mercury intoxication for both patients and dentistry staff. In the running for the esteemed Future Policy Award 2023, Nepal’s “Decision ‘Regarding Mercury based Equipments and Dental Amalgam’, 2019” has been shortlisted for the Future Policy Award 2023 by the World Future Council.
This year’s global Award, with special recognition of policies from the Global South, will be celebrating future-proof and effective policy solutions that protect our environment and guarantee a toxic-free world, especially for our children. The Future Policy Award is unique in that it celebrates policies rather than people on an international level.
By promoting the exchange of best practices, the Future Policy Award showcases a range of innovative policy approaches to advance toxic-free environment policies that create better living conditions for current and future generations.
“As a society, we are confronted with a multitude of crises, namely climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. To exacerbate the issue of pollution, harmful substances are incorporated into nearly all the products we rely on in our everyday lives, including dental amalgam fillings designed for our youngest members. It is crucial that we approach this matter with great seriousness and, above all, prioritize the protection of children from these harmful substances”, says Alexandra Wandel, Chair of the Management Board of the World Future Council.
Tanzania
Also a Tanzanian policy regulating the use of mercury (1) is among the top candidates for the prestigious Future Policy Award. The Tanzanian “Regulations for the control and management of mercury and mercury compounds, 2020” has been shortlisted to win the Future Policy Award 2023.
“Besides directly protecting children under 15 and pregnant and nursing women, the Tanzanian policy also aims to reduce contamination of the environment, drinking water and soils with mercury. Despite extremely limited resources, the law is thus a shining example for other African countries in similar situations. The jury has therefore decided to shortlist the Tanzanian policy.”, says Alexandra Wandel, Chair of the Management Board of the World Future Council.
The announcement of the winning policies, as well as the award ceremony will take place on the 28th of September 2023 in the context of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5) in Bonn, Germany. The award ceremony will be livestreamed on the World Future Council’s YouTube channel.
More details on all shortlisted policies here:
https://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Summaries-Shortlisted-Policies.pdf
Source: World Future Council
