Fluoride Free New Zealand Calls for Moratorium on Fluoridation until a public inquiry is held.

In the wake of Robert F Kennedy Jr being confirmed as Head of Health and Human Services in the USA and Dr Diana Sarfati resigning as Director-General of Health (DGoH) at the NZ Ministry of Health, Fluoride Free New Zealand calls for an immediate moratorium on fluoridation until a public inquiry looking at the latest scientific evidence can be held.

Robert F Kennedy has moved to have fluoridation stopped in the USA via decisions at the local level based on the latest scientific evidence, rather than by a Federal Government mandate. We expect the US Environmental Protection Agency will now have to take regulatory action to “reduce or remove” the risk posed by fluoridation as ordered to by the Federal Court Ruling in September last year.

Dr Diana Sarfati has now resigned, leaving open the option for a new DGoH to review the latest evidence and rescind the directives that were sent to 14 councils in July 2022. If the new DGoH reviews the latest evidence with an open mind, they will undoubtably come to the conclusion that fluoridation needs to be stopped. It is within the current legislation that the DGoH could order all councils to stop fluoridation.

Opposition against fluoridation is mounting. Despite threats of huge fines, even personal fines and prison time, the Mayor and six Whangarei District Councillors voted on Monday to seek an Interim Injunction against starting fluoridation. These councillors completely understand that adding fluoridation chemicals to their community’s water supply is akin to adding lead back into paint and petrol – and no one would ever do that.

Last week Rotorua Lakes District councillors resolved to write a letter to the Minister of Health asking for the directive to fluoridate their water be withdrawn until there has been a public inquiry into the latest scientific evidence on the safety and efficacy of water fluoridation reported back to Parliament.

We expect more councils will follow suit.

In the meantime, the Minister of Health needs to take charge and pause fluoridation. At the very least, whoever is acting as DGoH (whether permanently or temporarily) needs to send councils a letter advising there will be no enforcement of fines if they choose not to proceed with fluoridation.  

As Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said on Thursday these threats are a “despotic Soviet-era disgrace”.

 If ever there was a time for the Precautionary Principle, it is now.