Water New Zealand welcomes court decision to reject appeal by fluoride opponents

Water New Zealand has welcomed the decision by Justice Kos in the High Court (4 Sept) to reject an appeal by opponents of water fluoridation.

“This is the fourth time in two years that opponents of public water fluoridation have lost cases in the courts,” says John Pfahlert, CEO of Water New Zealand.

Lobby organisation, New Health, had been seeking to overturn Government regulations specifying that fluoridating agents used for the fluoridation of drinking water are not medicines made for the purposes of the Medicines Act.

“What they are really trying to do is undermine public confidence in a scientifically accepted means of improving public dental health,” said Mr Pfahlert. “The six grounds on which New Health sought relief from the Court have all been dismissed.”

Mr Pfahlert said that a 2014 scientific paper by the Office of the Prime Minister’s Science Advisor and the Royal Society clearly demonstrated the case for fluoridation of public water.

The report concluded that there is compelling evidence that fluoridation at the recommended levels produces broad benefits for dental health.

Mr Pfahlert said that the panel which undertook the review was unanimous in that there are no adverse effects of fluoride of any significance from fluoridation at the levels used in New Zealand.

In particular the paper stated: “No effects on brain development, cancer risk or cardiovascular or metabolic risk have been substantiated, and the safety margins are such that no subset of the population is at risk because of fluoridation.” The report concluded that the scientific issues raised by those opposed to fluoridation are not supported by evidence.

ENDS

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