Addressing mercury exposure from dental amalgam and protecting public and environmental health

Petition: 530

Issue(s): Compliance and enforcement, Human/environmental health, Indigenous matters, Toxic substances

Petitioner(s): A Canadian organization

Petitioner location(s): Ottawa, Ontario

Date received: 7 May 2025

Status: Replies pending

Summary: The petition asks Health Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada to explain their continued allowance of mercury-based dental amalgam in Canada, particularly among vulnerable populations, despite the health and environmental risks associated with mercury.

The petition refers to upcoming amendments to the Products Containing Mercury Regulations, which aim to reduce mercury emissions from products and align Canada with international standards. The petition notes that Canada has not taken regulatory action on dental amalgam since Health Canada’s 1996 voluntary position statement, which it reaffirmed in 2020.

The petition requests details on Canada’s strategy for phasing out dental amalgam use in accordance with the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which addresses mercury’s impact on human health and the environment. It asks whether Canada intends to align with the European Union’s decision to ban the use of dental amalgam by 2030.

The petition states that government-funded dental programs, such as the First Nations and Inuit Non-Insured Health Benefits program, which provides dental care to Indigenous people, prioritize dental amalgam and do not align with international health standards to eliminate mercury-based fillings. The petition asks whether efforts have been made to expand access to mercury-free alternatives in northern and remote communities.

Federal departments/organizations responsible for reply: Environment and Climate Change Canada; Health Canada; Indigenous Services Canada