Countries agree to end mercury tooth fillings by 2034

By AFP
November 7, 2025


The World Health Organization considers mercury one of the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern, calling it "toxic to human health" - Copyright GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File KEVORK DJANSEZIAN
Robin MILLARD

Countries agreed Friday to phase out the use of mercury-based dental amalgams in tooth fillings by 2034, in a move that will change how dentistry is done around the world.

At a conference in Geneva, signatories to a treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment from mercury pollution decided to call time on mercury amalgams.

Nations agreed “to end the use of dental amalgam by 2034, marking a historic milestone in reducing mercury pollution”, the conference announced in its closing statement.

The World Health Organization considers mercury one of the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern, calling it “toxic to human health”.

Some countries have already banned its use in dental amalgam, a common filling material for treating tooth decay used for more than 175 years.

The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and mercury compounds.

More than 150 countries are party to the convention, which was adopted in 2013 and came into force in 2017.

The sixth conference of parties to the treaty, held in Geneva this week, adopted amendments “establishing a global phase-out of dental amalgam by 2034”, the closing statement said.

“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.”

– African initiative –

The treaty already stipulated that signatories must take measures to phase out the use of mercury-based dental amalgams.

However, a bloc of African countries wanted to go further, with a ban on their production, import and export, starting in 2030.

In a video message as the conference opened on Monday, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked why mercury was deemed “dangerous in batteries, in over-the-counter medications and make-up”, but acceptable in dental fillings.

“It’s inexcusable that governments around the world still allow mercury-based compounds in healthcare — and safe alternatives exist,” he said.

A few countries opposed the idea of a phase-out by 2030, including Iran and India, and Britain, which said it was too soon.

But countries came together and agreed a phase-out by 2034.

“We have just opened the door to another chapter of the mercury history book,” said the convention’s executive secretary Monika Stankiewicz.

“Mercury pollution is a scourge.”

However, “by understanding one another and bridging our differences, we can make a difference in the lives of people everywhere, and indeed in the life of this beautiful planet we share”.

The conference’s president Osvaldo Alvarez Perez added: “We have set ambitious new goals, and left mercury a little further behind.”

Overall, the conference adopted 21 decisions aimed at advancing the convention’s objective of protecting human health and the environment from mercury pollution.

COP6 decision on dental amalgam secures an equity-focused, patient-centred approach

FDI and IADR advocacy ensures extension of global phase-out date from 2030 to 2034 and inclusion of key exemption

International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research

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Geneva, Switzerland — A landmark decision was reached at the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP6) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, where Parties agreed to set 2034 as the global phase-out date after which the manufacture, import, or export of dental amalgam will no longer be permitted. This milestone marks a major win for oral and public health and underscores the power of unified, science-based advocacy led by FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) and the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR).

The final decision reflects a balanced and equity-focused approach to phasing down dental amalgam use worldwide. Crucially, it includes a key exemption that supports the joint advocacy by FDI and IADR, which ensures that even after phase-out of dental amalgam it can be used “when its use is considered necessary by the dental practitioner based on the needs of the patient.” This provision ensures that patient care remains at the center of decision-making, safeguarding access to essential restorative treatments where alternatives are not yet available or viable.

FDI and IADR, with the support of the International Dental Manufacturers Association (IDM) and the American Dental Association (ADA), worked tirelessly to secure a balanced outcome by actively engaging in and influencing discussions throughout the negotiations. Coordinated advocacy efforts emphasized that while accelerating the phase down and eventually phasing out dental amalgam is essential, it must be achieved through an evidence-based, patient-centered, and equitable transition that is fair to all countries and considers their specific challenges and capacities.

“As we move toward the eventual phase-out of dental amalgam, it is essential that the needs of our members, and the patients they serve, remain at the heart of every decision,” said Mr Enzo Bondioni, Executive Director of FDI. “This outcome provides much-needed time and clarity for our members to plan, prepare, and implement the necessary national policies. It reinforces FDI’s commitment to supporting the global dental community in maintaining continuity of care and advancing oral health equity during this important transition”.

Over four days of intense deliberation, both organizations delivered individual and joint statements reinforcing the continued relevance of dental amalgam in restorative dentistry, while emphasizing the importance of prevention. They called for research into affordable, effective, and sustainable alternative materials and emphasized that waste management should be compulsory to reinforce the Convention’s broader objective of reducing environmental mercury exposure. These concerted efforts helped ensure that the final phase-out timeline was extended beyond 2030, the date originally proposed to 2034.

“Science and evidence must remain at the heart of every global health policy decision,” said Dr Christopher Fox, Chief Executive Officer of IADR. “This outcome reflects the progress we’ve made by investing in research into mercury-free alternatives, as called for in the text of the Minamata Convention, from both the public and private sectors. “IADR remains committed to supporting continued innovation and research that will further the rapid improvement of affordable, effective, and sustainable restorative materials, so no one is left behind in this transition”.

The decision gives Parties nine years to adapt their national strategies and healthcare systems to this new framework. This aligns closely with FDI and IADR’s long-standing position advocating for a coordinated and equity-focused phase-down that allows all countries, especially low- and middle-income nations, to strengthen capacity, build technical expertise, and ensure continuity of patient care during the transition.

By recognizing the diverse realities of healthcare delivery worldwide, the 2034 phase-out date and practitioner-based exemption together provide flexibility that avoids widening existing oral health inequalities. The Minamata Convention on Mercury, which entered into force in August 2017, now counts 153 Parties as of September 2025. The Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP7) will take place in June 2027, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the Convention.

About FDI World Dental Federation (FDI)

FDI World Dental Federation is the leading global voice of the dental profession and envisions a world with optimal oral health. It serves as the principal representative body for over 1 million dentists worldwide. Its membership includes some 200 national dental associations and specialist groups in over 130 countries. www.fdiworlddental.org/

About International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR)

The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research for health and well-being worldwide. IADR represents the individual scientists, clinician-scientists, dental professionals, and students based in academic, government, non-profit, and private-sector institutions who share our mission. Learn more at www.iadr.org.