Global Dental Community Secures Balanced Transition in Mercury Phase-Out at COP6
SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 10, 2025 - A pivotal decision at the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP6) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury has extended the global phase-out date for dental amalgam from 2030 to 2034. The outcome represents a major win for oral and public health, driven by coordinated advocacy from the FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) and the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR).
A Milestone for Equity and Patient-Centered Care
The new COP6 agreement establishes that the manufacture, import, and export of dental amalgam will cease globally by 2034. Crucially, it includes an exemption permitting its use "when its use is considered necessary by the dental practitioner based on the needs of the patient." This ensures clinicians can continue providing essential restorative care in cases where alternatives remain inaccessible or unsuitable-especially in low-resource settings.