Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“The insidious reach of the Protocol into every facet of NI life is further illustrated by the upcoming consequences of the EU ban on dental amalgam from 1 January 2025.
“Because of our subjection to EU law under the Protocol this ban will apply in Northern Ireland.
“Amalgam is the most common material for NHS permanent fillings in all parts of the UK.
“The European Commission adopted a proposal to revise the Mercury Regulation, to introduce a total phase-out of the use of dental amalgam and prohibit the manufacture and export of dental amalgam from the EU from 1 January 2025. The European Parliament has approved the Commission’s proposal.
“As the British Dental Association (BDA) has recognised this ban will have a disproportionate impact on services in Northern Ireland, which, the BDA says, tops the UK league table for oral health inequality, and has the highest proportion of filled teeth.
“Under the Protocol, Northern Ireland will be expected to phase out dental amalgam on the same basis as EU member states. With the BDA saying there are currently no alternative restorative materials that compete with amalgam on speed of placement or longevity, this is a serious issue for NI and a vivid example of how disastrous it is to be placed under foreign laws we don’t make and can’t change.”
The relevant BDA publication is here.