Our European correspondent Ulf Bengtsson reports:

In a previous e-mail I have reported that the FDI has set up a special “Mercury and
Dental Amalgam Task Team” in order to communicate with the UNEP to ensure that the interests of FDI members are being considered.  
For more information on Task Team members see attached file.
 
The FDI say they will collaborate and work closely on this issue with the International Dental Manufacturers, IDM (supporting member of the FDI)  and the ISO, an NGO with strong industrial connections, in a recent resolution.
 
IDM Executive Director,  Friedrich A. Herbst, is a consultant with the FDI.
 
New information on the FDIs view on UNEP negotiations has now become available in the FDI 2009 Annual Report.
It is obvious that the FDI will fight any restrictions on amalgam use but will be positive towards the introduction of amalgam traps in the clinics. Environmental contamination through feces, urine, crematoria and so on is not mentioned. According to the FDI they seem to have convinced the UNEP to make an exception for the use of dental amalgam in future recommendations/rulings:
 
 
“Science committee”
 
“Another significant issue with which the Science Committee is actively
involved is the discussions regarding prospective global mercury policy
recommendations from the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP), Chemicals Mercury Programme. The outcome of these
discussions will potentially have a profound effect on the delivery of
dental care, particularly in those countries where amalgam is still the most
widely used restorative material. The FDI Council took a decision to
join the Global Mercury Partnership and has formed a Mercury and
Dental Amalgam Task Team to co-ordinate activities and communications
with the UNEP”
 
 
“UNEP global mercury issue
 
 The FDI World Dental Federation has been monitoring developments
with regards to the global regulation of mercury, in particular
the work of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)
in establishing an international legal framework.
An FDI representative, Dr Julian Fisher, Associate Director of Education
and Scientific Affairs, attended several key UNEP Mercury
Programme meetings in 2008 and 2009, strictly in an observer
capacity, in order to update the FDI Council. Through this early
engagement, FDI was able to enter informal dialogue with various
key stakeholders and also provide UNEP with valuable and evidence based
information concerning dental amalgam.
At the 2008 FDI Annual World Dental Congress in Stockholm, the
FDI Council instructed the Executive Director, Dr David Alexander to
join the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership, to ensure that the
international dental community and the issues regarding dental
amalgam were properly and accurately represented in UN
discussions governing mercury.
This pro-active decision on behalf of the FDI membership was amply
justified in February 2009, when the FDI was formally accepted into
the partnership.
The 25th UNEP Governing Council met in February 2009 and instructed
the UNEP Mercury Programme Executive Director to
convene an inter-governmental negotiating committee with a mandate
to develop an international legally binding instrument to govern
mercury, which would include both binding and voluntary approaches.
Provisions for dental amalgam would be included in this legally binding
instrument.
The inter-governmental negotiating committee will commence its
work in 2010 with the goal of completing it prior to the 27th regular
session of the UNEP Governing Council in February 2013.
The FDI has reaffirmed through its Policy Statements that dental
amalgam is a safe, widely-used and affordable dental filling material
and currently serves the oral health needs of the majority of
communities around the world, particularly those most disadvantaged
and in need of dental treatment.
Through the engagement of the FDI, UNEP has a more complete
understanding of the important role that dental amalgam has in the
provision of dental care in many countries. UNEP respects the
interventions of the FDI and has indicated that it would be possible
for the international dental community, working through the relevant
global mercury partnership areas, to make special provisions for
dental amalgam.
UNEP also recognises that dental composites / mercury free
alternatives* (*UNEP term), does not currently represent an
economically viable, affordable restorative filling material in many
circumstances, most particularly in developing countries where the
use of composites would present additional clinical, logistical, economic
and infrastructure challenges.
FDI takes its responsibility with regard to mercury and dental
amalgam, both in terms of human health and the global environment,
with the utmost seriousness.
The FDI proposes pro-active engagement through its member
national dental associations, demonstrating its responsibilities and
strengthening the international dental community’s position.
Positive and pro-active initiatives with respect to collecting and
disposal of unused elemental mercury retained in dental offices and
dialogue regarding the use of amalgam separators would greatly assist
the dental community in demonstrating its responsibilities and
strengthening the dental community’s position in negotiating
appropriate clauses in the final international legally binding instrument.
The FDI believes that the key to achieving the UNEP Global Mercury
Partnership’s goal is to focus both on the prevention of oral disease
and the initial placement of dental filings.
However, it must be appreciated that even with a preventive
approach, there is, and will be for many years, an overwhelming need
for a safe and affordable dental filling material. The FDI echoes
comments from member states saying that restricting global mercury
should work in parallel with the development of safe and affordable
alternatives.
Dr. J Fisher
Education and Scientific Affairs Associate Director
On behalf of the FDI Science Committee”
 
Seasons Greetings and a hope for a good 2010. Keep up the good work!
 
/Ulf Bengtsson