at the bottom of the page you will find a link to a pdf-file in English of the actual regulation spelling out the Norwegian ban. The Norwegian bad did in fact take effect on January 1, 2008. Hurrah!!! The very limited exceptions are only temporary until 2010. The Norwegian Dental Association was NOT pleased about that. They wanted more exceptions, and wanted the exceptions to be permanent - to no avail. All of us who have worked for a ban on the use of amalgam are very pleased about that.
There have unfortunately been some misunderstandings about bans in Sweden and Denmark. Sweden has wanted a ban for many years. At Christmastime I was told by a Swede that I consider a dependable source, that the Swedish ban would take effect on Jan. 1. Later it turned out that was not the case. Something seems to be holding up the official ban - probably some EU red tape. I have not as yet seen any official documents providing for a ban on the use of dental amalgam, as yet. I believe the Swedes are working hard in that direction, but haven't gotten there yet.
The story is similar in Denmark. Denmark has had regulations against the use of mercury in products for years, but dental amalgam was excepted. Gradually more dental treatment has been added to the ban, as the Danish dentists reluctantly admit that some procedures may be replaced by other materials. So the question in Denmark was the extent to which there would be any remaining exceptions for dental amalgam. A minister was quoted in the Danish media saying thay a ban would take effect on 1 April. Later there have been other contradicting reports, some suggesting 1 October, others giving no date.
I have asked my contacts in Denmark and Sweden to let me know as soon as there is some official news. Next time I don't intend to send out information without having an official document about a ban. So far I haven't received any official information about bans in Denmark and Sweden. Both countries are working in that direction, but haven't arrived there yet.
Both Sweden and Denmark are members of the EU, and Norway is not. That may be the explanation for why Norway has gone ahead with the ban, but Sweden and Denmark have so far not managed to get one in place.
That said, I believe that dental amalgam is pretty much phased out in Sweden, where many have been working for a ban for many years. The official ban will probably make very little difference. I think that more dental amalgam has been in use in Denmark. Denmark has been a laggard compared to Sweden and Norway. However, now an approaching ban is also common knowledge in Denmark, so the phasing out of dental amalgam there will hopefully be done relatively quickly.
Best regards from Maryanne
(our correspondent in Norway)
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