The Philippines transition period for the use of dental amalgam ended on 29 May 2023 according to the Administrative Order 2020-0020. The use for children up to 14 years of age, pregnant and breastfeeding women and the import of dental amalgam was already banned since 2020.
This regulation not only addresses the environmental and health risks posed by dental amalgam itself, but also prevents mercury from dentistry being transferred to artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM).
In line with Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Department of Health adopted the following phase-out policy of dental amalgams as of 14 May 2020:
- Immediately upon the effectivity of this Order, the following shall be implemented:
a. Ban on the importation of liquid mercury for use in dental restorative procedures and dental amalgam and its capsules;
b. Ban on the use of dental amalgams and its capsules for children fourteen (14) years old and below, pregnant women and nursing mothers. - The ban on the use of existing dental amalgams / capsules for dental restoration procedures in dental clinics and schools shall be carried out after three years from the effectivity of this Order.
- Proper storage and disposal of all dental amalgam capsules in the country through an accredited TSD facility shall be completed no later than the phase-out period of three (3) years.
Department of Health, Administrative Order 2020-0020
