EU - Review of the Mercury Regulation

Mercury is a major risk to the environment and human health. Exposure to mercury can cause permanent brain and kidney damage in adults and negatively affect foetal and early childhood development. It is bio-accumulative and via the food webs and transboundary transport of air pollution.

While the use of mercury is restricted in most products in the EU, in some products its use still occurs. In order to further restricting the remaining uses of mercury in the EU, especially in dental amalgam and certain other mercury-added products (MAPs), such as lamps and measuring devices, and their international trade, the EU has published an initiative proposing policies tackling the toxic element:

- phasing-out the use of dental amalgam in the EU as it is considered to be technically and economically feasible before 2030

- prohibiting, if needed, the manufacture and export of certain MAPs

With regard to dental amalgam, the impact assessment will consider a phase-out over different timeframes and include the possibility of certain exceptions relating to specific categories of patients or medical specificities (also reflecting conclusions from the assessment of the feasibility of phasing-out dental amalgam. In considering a phase-out of dental amalgam, the assessment will also address the implications a phase-out would have on mercury emission from crematoria and the potential need to regulate such emissions.

Regarding other MAPs, the preparatory work for the revision of the Mercury Regulation will seek to identify the most environmentally and economically effective manner of reducing and eliminating the presence on the international market.

Public consultation is open for feedback for 4 weeks until April 2, 2021.