Amalgam was a subject of full debate at the Minamata Convention. The final decision made four points clear. Firstly, nations must phase down amalgam use. Secondly, each nation must take action not at some future date like 2020 or 2025, but at once (to some nations, the signing; to others, the ratification – but in many Africa nations, the intention is to begin now). Thirdly, by grouping amalgam with other products instead of as a waste, the focus is on reduction of use and transition to alternatives. Fourthly, by placing amalgam in the annex, the Convention remains open-minded to accelerated action in the future based on the Convention’s experience in its early years.
Dental amalgam is a tooth filling material that is approximately 50{ada252c2d70fd1d60608001fdf5773fc454367e8353fbe52aeedfff079685f3e} mercury, a highly polluting neurotoxin. Nations around the world are working to phase-down – and ultimately phase-out – amalgam use. This is chiefly due to the fact that dental mercury pollution is significant, mercury-free dental restorations are available and the fact that the Minamata Convention on Mercury requires the phase-down of dental amalgam use. Sequel to this, SRADev Nigeria hosted the West African Summit on Phasing Out Amalgam was held in Abuja, Nigeria on 20 May 2014, bringing together NGO leaders from ECOWAS nations of Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania, who adopted the Abuja Declaration for Mercury-Free Dentistry for Africa. The Declaration’s aim is that Africa shall be the first continent to phase out amalgam.
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Brief Dental Amalgam Compendium and Amalgam phase 2 final report