On 7 November, at the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (COP-6), the global treaty on mercury, a decision was made to phase out dental amalgam by 2034.
We met with the Department of Health and Social Care ahead of COP-6 to press the case for the UK Government to seek to ensure that any phase-down date set under the Minamata Convention is feasible for the dental profession. This is necessary to allow time for suitable alternatives to be developed, and for prevention policies to be implemented and have time to take effect. It is also necessary to support the longstanding commitment to environmental responsibility. We are, of course, mindful of the need to ensure that NHS payments respond appropriately to any required change in commonly used restorative materials.
For Northern Ireland, a phase-out date had already been set as 31 December 2034 - unless an earlier date is agreed under the global Minamata Convention - but there was no fixed date for phase-out in England, Scotland and Wales until now.
Amalgam supply across the UK
We regularly meet with the British Dental Industry Association and discuss the future supply of amalgam. While there are no issues at present, the UK’s supply of amalgam is largely dependent on a few large international suppliers. This means that were they to withdraw from the market, it would pose a serious risk to the sustainability of health service dentistry across the UK.
Imports of dental amalgam into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom will be considered ‘category one goods’ from 1 July 2026. Category one goods are not eligible for simplified movement processes and are subject to full customs procedures. This is in accordance with the Windsor Framework and according to the Commission Notice granting a Northern Ireland derogation. This change, along with other global factors, presents considerable uncertainties around availability of supply.
In Northern Ireland we have been highlighting the significant increase in cost of dental amalgam supplies, with members reporting a price rise in dental amalgam in the region of 150% in the last three years, and the need for greater support to mitigate these costs to practices.
No time to waste on phasing out amalgam
While our hard-won derogation spared a ‘cliff-edge’ ban from 1 January 2025 in Northern Ireland, it is important the Government does not lose sight of the fact that this deferral is conditional on the UK authorities making regular and consistent progress towards phasing down amalgam.
We have briefed Lords and MPs on this issue, and they have echoed our warnings against complacency and stressed the need to support a managed transition away from amalgam in recent Parliamentary debates.
Robbie Moore MP questioned whether a decade was sufficient time for health service dentistry to adapt to the huge change that the phase-out of amalgam will bring, while Robin Swann MP urged the Government not to waste any time, and to ensure that preparatory work was being done now.
Baroness Hoey called the derogation a “a sticking plaster solution” and stressed the need for more funding to allow for a phase-out of amalgam. Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth called for research and development of alternatives to mercury, as well as investment in preventive oral health measures. Lord Reay stressed that “the Government should commit to granting extra funding to the already underfunded NHS dentistry to cover any increase in cost for alternative fillings.”
Lord Weir of Ballyholme warned against falling into the trap of thinking “job done” and ignoring the issue until 2034, stressing “there needs to be considerable investment and support to ensure that we have practical alternatives to the dental amalgam” by then.
As the MPs and Lords quite rightly concluded when considering this issue in Parliament, dentistry across the UK requires much greater investment and reform to create the conditions needed to move NHS dentistry to a post-amalgam future.
Learn about the impact of our campaigning on dental amalgam. Members can read our advice on using dental amalgam in the UK, where Expert members can also download a personalisable template for amalgam use and disposal protocol.