In response to a written question by Ivo Belet, MEP (EPP, Belgium), who was concerned about a number of substitutes introduced on the European market, the European Commission said that, by 30 June 2020, it will report on the outcome of its feasibility study on phasing out dental amalgam (fillings) by 2030.
In 2013, the European Union had signed the international convention of Minamata to reduce the use of mercury, considered to be a highly toxic heavy metal. Then, in 2017, it adopted the new Regulation 2017/8522, which has banned fillings since July 2018 for young people and pregnant women and which provides for prohibition of the use of bulk mercury by 2019.
In his written question, Belet highlights concerns expressed by dentists who say the substitutes already available “may also contain substances that are harmful or even carcinogenic”. The European Commission’s response gives very few indications. It simply states that it is preparing a feasibility study to “assess inter alia the availability, the safety/risk profile, the technical advantages and drawbacks, and any limitations of using substitutes (e.g. special needs of patients), as well as the availability of equipment/techniques needed by dentists and the availability of required dentists’ skills and training”. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)