Sec Kerry Urged to Convince FDA to Conform with US Position & Minamata Convention

60 NGOs recently urged US Secretary of State John Kerry to convince FDA to conform with US policy to reduce amalgam use.  The groups assert that a 2009 FDA rule is impeding mercury reduction and contrary to the position taken by the U.S. during  negotiations:  “The United States supports further consideration of dental amalgam by the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee such that the agreement is able to achieve the phase down, with the goal of eventual phase out by all Parties, of mercury amalgam upon the development and availability of affordable, viable alternatives.” However, FDA takes the opposite view, as articulated in its 2009 rule and unaltered since that time. “As explained in our letter, FDA is fundamentally at odds with the Convention’s provisions to “phase down the use of dental amalgam, ” as well as the U.S. Government’s position,” said MPP director Bender.  “The difference in approach reflects the Convention’s consideration of dental amalgam’s full life cycle and the lack of any environmental assessment by FDA.” According to the latest U.S. Geological Survey report, dental amalgam is now one of the largest consumer uses of mercury in the U.S. today.