The Philippines Department of Health just completed and signed an administrative order that phases out dental amalgam in the Philippines in three years!  Furthermore, it immediately bans amalgam use in pregnant women, children under the age of 14, breastfeeding mothers, and persons with compromised renal and immune systems.

With this accomplishment, the Philippines becomes the second country in Asia (after Nepal) within a year to announce plans to phase out amalgam use – proving that this risky mercury product is not needed anywhere.

Nepal is the first country in Asia to announce its plan to phase out amalgam use.

Joining several other nations in Europe, Asia, and Africa, Nepal recently declared it is banning amalgam use right now in children under 15, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

Then Nepal is going further: It will finish with amalgam use, on a plan being implemented over a five-year period, as alternatives become fully available there and while it revamps dental school curriculum to focus on mercury-free filling materials instead of amalgam. Continue reading →

Success was the outcome of Dr. Mahmood Khwaja of Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)’s campaign for mercury-free dentistry in Pakistan.

The Directorate General Health Services for the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in Pakistan issued an advisory note, entitled, “Advisory Note to Avoid/Restrict Mercury Dental Amalgam Fillings for Children (below the age of 15 years) in KPK, to safeguard their health at their very early age” (notification No. 2405-70 dated 10 July 2018).   Continue reading →

The Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) in association with Bangladesh Dental Society (BDS) organized a press briefing on March 10, 2018, where BDS declared “Mercury dental amalgam should not be used in the treatment of pregnant women, nursing mother and children after June, 2018.”   Continue reading →

Toxics Link, a leading environmental NGO, has appealed to the Indian government to issue a blanket ban on the use of mercury in the healthcare sector – including dentistry.

As quoted in the press, Toxics Link Associate Director Satish Sinha said, “There is an urgent need to rollout a robust public awareness campaign to educate consumers and healthcare workers, including addressing disposal of mercury waste. Toxics Link urges the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to institute a blanket ban on the use of mercury in the health sector and to facilitate the movement towards safer alternatives.”  Continue reading →