Countries around the world have agreed to phase out the use of mercury-based dental fillings by 2034 to curb its pollution.
The decision was reached on Friday at a conference in Geneva, where parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, an international treaty aimed at safeguarding health and the environment, adopted new amendments to end the use of dental amalgam globally within the next decade.
“This science-based, time-bound agreement marks a decisive step toward the total elimination of mercury use in dentistry and a safer future for all communities,” the conference said in its closing statement.
Mercury, described by the World Health Organisation as one of the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern, is known to be toxic to humans and the environment.
Despite this, mercury amalgam has been used in dentistry for more than 175 years as a common filling material for treating tooth decay.
More than 150 nations are party to the Minamata Convention, which was adopted in 2013 and came into force in 2017.
While the treaty already required countries to take steps toward reducing mercury use, Friday’s agreement introduces a definitive timeline for its global phase-out.
An African bloc had pushed for an earlier ban, beginning in 2030, covering not only the use but also the production, import, and export of mercury-based amalgams.
However, some countries, including Iran, India, and the United Kingdom, argued that the earlier deadline was too soon.
In the end, delegates settled on 2034 as a compromise date.
“We have just opened the door to another chapter of the mercury history book,” said Monika Stankiewicz, executive secretary of the convention. “Mercury pollution is a scourge, but by understanding one another and bridging our differences, we can make a difference in the lives of people everywhere.”
In a video address earlier in the week, US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr questioned why mercury was still permitted in dentistry when banned in other everyday products.
“It’s inexcusable that governments around the world still allow mercury-based compounds in healthcare, and safe alternatives exist,” he said.
Conference president Osvaldo Alvarez Perez added that the agreement demonstrated global unity in addressing a persistent environmental threat.
“We have set ambitious new goals and left mercury a little further behind,” he said.
The conference adopted a total of 21 decisions aimed at furthering the convention’s goal of protecting human health and the environment from mercury pollution.
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