Mercury fillings: Dentists in NI exempt from EU ban

This ban means it will not just be illegal to import mercury fillings, but to use them at all (except in exceptional circumstances).

Dentists in Northern Ireland said they were critically unprepared to work without dental amalgam, and that patient care would be affected.

They said they are already at crisis point and lose money carrying out most routine surgeries and fillings etc, unless they are private.

Dentists argue that dental amalgam is safe and has been used for a century.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson welcomed the derogation.

“I am glad that common sense has prevailed and that a durable and workable arrangement has been reached,” he said.

“The safeguards we secured have played a significant role in bringing London and Brussels to this place.”