Correction: Dental Amalgam Text

Summary#

This is an erratum published in Canada Gazette, Part I on February 4, 2023 that corrects the English text of the earlier notice about the Products Containing Mercury Regulations (originally published on December 24, 2022). The corrected paragraphs relate to government comments and findings about dental amalgam (mercury fillings).

What it does#

• Replaces the English-language paragraphs under the heading “Dental amalgam” in the earlier publication.
• The corrected text says some associations of Indigenous Peoples and other stakeholders want stricter limits on dental amalgam because other countries have banned it or limited it, mercury-free alternatives exist, and an international Convention calls for a phase-down.
• The corrected text says the Government of Canada supports a phase-down approach and lists actions it has taken to reduce need for amalgam and mercury releases from dental facilities, and to keep amalgam in encapsulated form.
• The corrected text notes a steady decline in amalgam use in Canada, including a sharp 25% decline between 2016 and 2019.
• The corrected text states that, based on recent Canadian studies, mercury from amalgams is “not at a level of concern for most Canadians,” and that the government’s position is that amalgam use is safe for the general population.

Who's affected#

• Dentists and dental clinics (practices and waste-handling expectations).
• People with or considering dental amalgam fillings (patients).
• Indigenous Peoples and other stakeholder groups who commented on the rule.
• Environmental and health policy observers who follow mercury regulations.
• If unclear: the erratum fixes wording in the public record; it does not itself change the regulation text beyond the corrected paragraphs.

Why it matters#

• The corrected text clarifies the government’s public position on dental amalgam safety and on pursuing a “phase-down” rather than an outright ban.
• It highlights past declines in amalgam use (25% between 2016 and 2019) and signals ongoing emphasis on prevention, alternatives, and reducing mercury releases from dental facilities.
• For the public, patients, and communities concerned about mercury exposure, the erratum affects how the government’s stance and evidence are presented in the official record.