Urgent – Submissions Close 9 January – MoH try to exempt Fluoride Chemicals The New Zealand Government has announced that it is taking public submissions on a pending application to exempt fluoridation chemicals (HFA and SSF) from the New Zealand Medicine’s Act, even though their sole stated purpose is to treat people to prevent dental decay. Closing date is the 9th January 2015. medsafe.govt.nz/consultations/medicine-regulations-fluoride-in-drinking-water.asp See submission form below The Ministry of Health will consider feedback from submitters early in the New Year. A final decision on the proposed amendment is likely to be taken in late January or early February 2015, following consideration by the Minister and Cabinet. If approved, the new regulation is likely to come into force in February or March 2015. We URGENTLY need many professionals and members of the NZ AND INTERNATIONAL public to write submissions saying why fluoride should NOT be allowed an exemption under NZ law. You can write as much or as little as you like. It would be very helpful to include professional qualifications and background, if applicable. If you wish to speak or present supporting information to your submission, it is important to include that request in your written submission. They may hold hearings if enough people request speaking or presentation time. This has come about as a result of a Judicial Review against the Ministry of Health in November 2014. bellgully.co.nz/resources/pdfs/New-Health-v-A-G-2014-NZHC-2487.pdf The most shocking thing is that in his judgement, Justice David Collins intervened and advised the Ministry of Health’s legal team to apply for this exemption for fluoride in water supplies! Exempting fluoride in water supplies would be unprecedented. As yet, no exemptions have been issued for ingested substances, so if this exemption is granted, fluoride would be the first. This could close the door to planned future legal challenges on fluoridation in New Zealand. We would appreciate your help very much, and would be grateful if you could please forward this request to your networks. If you are pressed for time in this busy Xmas season, we have supplied an easy submission template below which can be copied and pasted, emailed or posted before 9th January 2015. It can also be printed out and duplicated for public distribution in any way you see fit. SUBMISSION FORM I do / do not (delete whichever does not apply) give permission for my personal details to be released to persons under the Official Information Act 1982 Submission to Consultation on Proposed Amendment to Regulations under the Medicines Act 1981 – Fluoride (2014) “It is proposed that a new regulation be made under section 105(1)(i) that: Fluoride containing substances, including the substances hydrofluorosilicic acid (HFA) and sodium silico fluoride (SSF) are not medicines for the purpose of the Act when they are manufactured and supplied or distributed for the purpose of fluoridating community water supplies.” Medsafe Name: Email: Address: Question 1. Do you support the proposed amendment? If not why not? NO. I do not support the proposed amendment because: 1. Fluoride is not a water treatment like chlorine 2. Fluoride is added to the water as treatment for the disease of dental caries therefore it is a medicine 3. The Medicines Act is designed to protect people from the risk of indiscriminate use of medicines, reflecting the ethical codes of health professionals to “first do no harm” 4. The proposed amendment would effectively remove the safety precaution protecting people from harm thereby undermining the right of every New Zealander to be safe from the indiscriminate use of medicines Question 2. Are there other fluoride-containing compounds used to treat community water supplies that should be specifically named in the regulation? If so, what are they? NO. Fluoride and its compounds are not used to ‘treat’ community water supplies. In community water fluoridation (CWF) the purpose of fluoride and its compounds is to treat people I do / do not (delete whichever does not apply) wish to speak to my submission. Post to: Regulations under the Medicines Act 1981 Consultation Medsafe Clinical Leadership Protection & Regulation Ministry of Health PO Box 5013 Wellington 6145 Email to: [email protected]
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 01:49:43 +0000