Kia ora Lance

 

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) on 26 September 2024:

 

1. Review and Impact: Has the Ministry assessed the findings and
implications of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
California’s decision? What impact, if any, might this have on New
Zealand's current or future water fluoridation policies?

2. Scientific Evaluations: What scientific research has the Ministry
conducted or reviewed concerning the neurotoxic effects of fluoride at the
levels used in New Zealand’s public water systems?

3. Policy Changes: Are there any anticipated changes to national
guidelines or regulations on water fluoridation in response to new
international evidence or the recent U.S. court ruling?

4. Public Health Communications: How is the Ministry currently advising
local health boards and councils in light of this ruling? Are there any
planned communications or consultations on this topic?

5. Future Actions: Does the Ministry plan any further investigations or
actions regarding the safety measures of water fluoridation?

 

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in
any event no later than 24 October 2024, being 20 working days after the
day your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request
by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

 

If you have any queries regarding your request, please feel free to
contact the OIA Services Team on [1][email address]. If any
additional factors come to light which are relevant to your request,
please do not hesitate to contact us so that these can be taken into
account.  

 

Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.

 

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Tçnâ koe Lance

 

Response to your request for official information

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to the Ministry of Health – Manatû Hauora (the Ministry) on 26
September 2024. You requested:

 

“1. Review and Impact: Has the Ministry assessed the findings and
implications of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
California’s decision? What impact, if any, might this have on New
Zealand's current or future water fluoridation policies?

 

2. Scientific Evaluations: What scientific research has the Ministry
conducted or reviewed concerning the neurotoxic effects of fluoride at the
levels used in New Zealand’s public water systems?

 

3. Policy Changes: Are there any anticipated changes to national
guidelines or regulations on water fluoridation in response to new
international evidence or the recent U.S. court ruling?

 

4. Public Health Communications: How is the Ministry currently advising
local health boards and councils in light of this ruling? Are there any
planned communications or consultations on this topic?

 

5. Future Actions: Does the Ministry plan any further investigations or
actions regarding the safety measures of water fluoridation?”

 

The World Health Organization and other international and national health
and scientific experts endorse community water fluoridation as a safe and
effective public health measure for preventing dental decay.

 

The Director-General of Health is aware of the recent decision of the US
District Court for the Northern District of California.

 

As was required by the New Zealand High Court, the Director-General is
undertaking a Bill of Rights analysis of the directions to ensure that
section 11 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 is considered. This
will include consideration of scientific evidence, and local circumstances
in each locality subject to a direction. The Ministry is ensuring it is
using the most current information since the directions were made in 2022,
where this is available. The Ministry keeps a watching brief on the
national and international evidence base.

 

In 2014, a comprehensive report was published by the Royal Society Te
Apârangi, prepared jointly with the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief
Science Advisor, reviewing the substantial

body of scientific evidence on the efficacy and safety of fluoridation of
public water supplies.

The report concluded that there are no adverse health effects of any
significance from

fluoridation levels used in New Zealand. In June 2021, the Office of the
Prime Minister’s Chief

Science Advisor released an evidence update, which confirmed that the
conclusions of the 2014 report remain appropriate. You can find these
reviews online at:

[1]www.pmcsa.ac.nz/topics/fluoridation-an-update-on-evidence/.

 

You can find information relating to the safety and effectiveness of
community water fluoridation on the Ministry of Health’s website at:
[2]https://www.health.govt.nz/strategies-in...

 

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this
decision, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team on:
[email address].

 

Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [3][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.

 

 

Ngâ mihi 

  

 

OIA Services Team

Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[4]inistry of Health information releases 

 

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References

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1. http://www.pmcsa.ac.nz/topics/fluoridati...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/strategies-in...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...