News of the extension has been welcomed by Mike Nesbitt, health minister, who has said, “Securing a derogation has been a priority for the department given the impact it would have had on patients and dental practitioners. I conveyed this message urgently to the Northern Ireland secretary of state on this issue as soon as he took office, to impress on him the importance of effective action.
“I am very pleased that this has been secured and that the phasing down of dental amalgam can be taken forward in a much more planned way over the coming years.”
There are several conditions attached to the agreement with the EU, mainly around reporting and showing continued progress to reduce the use of amalgam. The conditions are deemed achievable and in line with the Department of Health’s long term policy objectives on amalgam use.
Mike added, “For many months, my department has been working closely with officials in the UK’s Cabinet Office and Department for Health and Social Care, as well as with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Executive Office, to make a strong and compelling case for why Northern Ireland needed this derogation.
“I am very glad to see our efforts translate into tangible benefits for dental patients and practitioners in this way."