Following the EU’s approval of a phase-out of dental amalgam from 1st January 2025, a 10 year derogation from the restriction on the usage of dental amalgam has been approved for Northern Ireland.
A notice published by the European Commission confirms that:
- Following the adoption of the Commission proposal and during the resulting ordinary legislative procedure, the Government of the United Kingdom has informed the Commission of its intention to continue using dental amalgam for patients in the United Kingdom until a phase-out date is agreed under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
- The use of dental amalgam in dental treatment in Northern Ireland for patients residing in the United Kingdom does not pose a risk to the integrity of the EU’s internal market nor to the protection of public health and the environment within the EU, subject to certain conditions.
- The European Commission takes the view that dental amalgam may be used in Northern Ireland for the purpose of dental treatment for patients residing in the United Kingdom, and continue importing dental amalgam from outside the Union for that purpose until 31 December 2034 or until the date agreed under the framework of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, whichever is earlier.
The derogation is subject to a number of conditions, including on restrictions on the import of amalgam to and export from Northern Ireland and prohibiting the manufacture of amalgam in Northern Ireland from 1 July 2026.
