THE European Commission (EU) has published draft legislation to phase out dental amalgam in 2025. The revision of the EU Mercury Regulation has been expected since December 2022 and includes a ban on mercury containing light bulbs and lamps.
Since there are viable mercury-free alternatives, dental amalgam shall no longer be used for dental treatments of any member of the population from January 1, 2025. The proposal also includes a ban on its manufacture and export, making an important contribution to reducing mercury emissions internationally.
In April 2023, during a Southern Africa World Alliance workshop, Minister of Green Economy and Environment Hon. Collins Nzovu, MP assured the Children’s Environmental Health Foundation and the Minamata Convention that Zambia will be the next country to enact a law on mercury adding that his Ministry will continue supporting the total ban of mercury and the use of dental amalgam in the country.
Mr. Nzovu said the ban will include a regulation to ban Mercury containing light bulbs and lamps to protect our health and environment adding that efforts have been made to phase out the usage of amalgam (Mercury) in dentistry in Zambia.
The Honorable Minister noted that it is for this reason that Minamata Mercury Convention now requires each party to “phase down the use of dental amalgam” and Zambia is a party to the Minamata Convention.
Furthermore, our next milestone is to see that the Zambian Government enacts a legislation to completely prohibit the importation and use of dental amalgam in similarity to our colleagues in Europe and some African countries.
The use of dental amalgam for children under the age of 15, as well as breastfeeding and pregnant women, has already been banned in the EU since 2018.
Amalgam consists of 50% mercury, one of the world’s most toxic Substances. Despite all precautions taken in dentistry, mercury inevitably enters the environment, where it transforms into the even more toxic form methyl mercury and contributes to mercury accumulation in the fish we eat.
However, numerous countries such as Sweden, Norway, Moldova, Lithuania, Switzerland, Bolivia, Ecuador, Indonesia, and the Philippines have already phased out the use of amalgam and Zambia is yet to phase it out completely. Most recently, Poland had replaced amalgam with alternatives in the statutory health insurance.
Before the Commission’s proposal can take effect, it must be approved by the European Parliament and the Council. Given the delay, however, the Parliament will have to move fast to complete all the formalities before the 2024 parliamentary elections.
This is a milestone that will be achieved by the Commission. Finally, we get a regulation for dental amalgam, the largest remaining use of mercury in Europe and a serious threat to health and the environment.
PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
27th July, 2023
Issued by Michael Musenga
Executive Director and National Lead Elimination Advisor
Children’s Environmental Health Foundation in Zambia
Email: mmusenga@yahoo.com
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.