Northern Ireland to allow dental amalgam use until 2034

Those silver‑coloured fillings you see in older dental work are back in the news. The UK Government has approved changes to the Control of Mercury rules for Northern Ireland. The instrument was made on 12 November 2025 and, as is standard, comes into force 21 days later on 3 December 2025, giving services a short period to prepare.

Here’s the plain‑English summary. In Northern Ireland, dentists may continue to use dental amalgam and import it for the treatment of UK‑resident patients until 31 December 2034. At the same time, exports of amalgam from Northern Ireland to outside the UK are prohibited from 2025 and manufacturing in Northern Ireland stops from 1 July 2026 under EU law. After 2034, the import ban will apply too.

Why is Northern Ireland treated differently from Great Britain? Under the Windsor Framework, parts of EU goods law continue to apply in Northern Ireland. The European Commission’s July 2024 notice sets conditions for this arrangement-no exports, no manufacturing after July 2026, tighter import controls and yearly reporting-and says Northern Ireland may keep using and importing amalgam for UK‑resident patients until 31 December 2034 or an earlier global deadline under the Minamata Convention.

What changed in UK law is mostly about enforcement. The 2025 instrument updates the 2017 regulations so customs officers can help enforce the export prohibition now and, after 31 December 2034, the import prohibition. It also lists the new EU rules on amalgam and the fresh reporting duty for importers as ‘relevant provisions’ that UK authorities can enforce in Northern Ireland.

If you’re a dentist or dental student in Northern Ireland, the takeaway is straightforward. Amalgam remains available when a registered dentist or registered dental care professional judges it necessary for a UK‑resident patient, and supplies can be imported for that purpose. You cannot export amalgam from Northern Ireland, and you cannot manufacture it there after 1 July 2026.

For patients, this is about where you live. If you are a UK resident and receive treatment in Northern Ireland, amalgam stays on the menu until the end of 2034. If you are not UK‑resident, clinics should use mercury‑free alternatives instead.

Keep the dates tidy for revision: the EU bans export of amalgam from 1 January 2025; EU import and manufacturing bans follow from 1 July 2026; and Northern Ireland’s allowance to use and import for UK‑resident patients runs until 31 December 2034 unless a global decision brings that forward.

The health and environment reason sits in the background. Mercury is toxic to the nervous system and builds up in ecosystems. The EU’s plan is to shift to mercury‑free dentistry with only narrow clinical exceptions, in line with the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Reading from England, Scotland or Wales? This instrument changes the law in Northern Ireland only. Great Britain has its own rules on mercury‑added products; any future decision on amalgam there would be taken through a domestic process after consultation.

How will this be checked in practice? Customs can assist, importers and any remaining manufacturers must file annual figures with the authorities, and from July 2026 amalgam moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland is treated as ‘category 1’ goods under the Windsor Framework, so expect extra controls. The European Commission also says it will review compliance each year.

Here’s a quick study note for law and politics classes. ‘Made’ is the day a minister signs a statutory instrument; ‘coming into force’ is when it starts to apply. The 21‑day gap you see here is common. You will also spot an ‘ambulatory reference’ to the EU mercury regulation-this technique keeps Northern Ireland aligned with EU updates without passing a new Act each time.

What happens next? Watch the Minamata talks: if countries agree a new global phase‑out date before 2034, Northern Ireland’s allowance would end sooner; otherwise the current end‑date stands. Until then, the rule of thumb is simple: no exports now, no manufacturing after mid‑2026, and use and import only for UK‑resident patients until 31 December 2034.