ISLAMABAD: Imposing regulations on mercury use in dental amalgam in Pakistan came under discussion in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Ministry of Climate Change Secretary Iftikharul Hassan Gilani. The first consultative meeting of the stakeholders to gradually phase-out the use of Mercury amalgam in dental clinics and hospitals was organised by the ministry at its secretariat on Tuesday. The secretary explained about the measures under Minamata Convention on mercury including those made to control its supply and trade as well as limitations on certain specific sources of mercury, such as from primary mining. “There are also control measures on mercury-added products and manufacturing processes in which mercury or mercury compounds are used, as well as controls on artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Emissions and releases of mercury each have a separate article, with controls directed to reduce levels of mercury while allowing flexibility to accommodate national development plans,” he said. Iftikhar said that there are measures on environmentally sound interim storage of mercury and on mercury wastes, as well as measures on contaminated sites. Provision is made within the convention for financial and technical support to the developing countries and the countries with economies in transition, with a financial mechanism, he added. Ministry of Climate Change Deputy Director (Chemical) Dr Zaigham Abbas informed the participants about the toxicity of mercury in products in Pakistan such as dental amalgam, skin whitening creams, light bulbs etc. “The health impacts of mercury are well established. Minamata Convention on mercury was adopted in October 2013 at Kumamoto in Japan and Pakistan signed the convention on October 10, 2013. Currently 128 countries are the signatories and 28 countries have ratified the said convention. Pakistan has to ratify it yet,” he informed. He said that the objective of the convention is the protection of human health and environment from emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. “Mercury is recognized as a substance producing significant neurological and other effects, with particular concerns about its effects on unborn children and infants.” He said that the global transport of mercury in the environment was the key reason for taking the decision that global action is required to address the problem of mercury pollution in the environment. He also informed that the United Nations Environment Programme had approved the project titled “Development of Minamata Initial Assessment in Pakistan.” This project was approved during the Global Environment Facility (GEF) fifth Replenishment, he said. UNEP is the implementing agency and the International Environmental Technology Center, Osaka, Japan is the executing agency for the project’s activities. The project will be implemented in close cooperation with Ministry of Climate Change as well as IETC, UNEP and its Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP). The main components of the Project include strengthening the baselines on mercury management, development of national mercury inventories, piloting of sectorial action plans as a follow up of prioritisation, including indicative sampling, development of national mercury management plans and regional approach. Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Deputy Director Dr Arsalan Hyder emphasized to create awareness in general public and to sensitize dentist about the use of mercury in dental filling. He also stressed for the national strategy on the phase down on the use of mercury and to introduce economical and environment friendly alternatives in dentistry. He said that the ministry will develop a concept paper for the approval of a competent authority. In this regard, the ministry will further conduct the meetings and develops a road map and policy for mercury free dental filling. It will also engage PMDC and HEC to revise the curriculum for the effective implementation of Minamata Convention on mercury, he said.