The Philippines Department of Health just completed and signed an administrative order that phases out dental amalgam in the Philippines in three years! Furthermore, it immediately bans amalgam use in pregnant women, children under the age of 14, breastfeeding mothers, and persons with compromised renal and immune systems.
With this accomplishment, the Philippines becomes the second country in Asia (after Nepal) within a year to announce plans to phase out amalgam use – proving that this risky mercury product is not needed anywhere.
Hand-in-hand with our World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry partner organizations, Consumers for Dental Choice has been working to obtain this administrative order for eight years. Making three visits to Manila, our executive director Charlie Brown was pleased to see the interest of the Secretary of Health as the issue wound through a labyrinth of agencies, stakeholders, and workshops. Our nonprofit environmental group partners there carried the ball over the goal line, as did our partner last year in Nepal.