Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill

The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows:

1. Title

This Act is the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2020.

2. Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.

3. Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to make amendments to the Health Act 1956 allow the Minister of Health to prescribe basic standards for the fluoridation of drinking water.

4. Principal Act amended

This Act amends the Health Act 1956 (the principal Act).

5. Section 69O amended (Minister may issue, adopt, amend, or revoke drinking-water standards)

(1) In section 69O(2)(b)(iii), replace ":" with "; and".

(2) Following section 69O(2)(b)(iii), insert a new subparagraph (iv) as follows:

• (iv) where such standards relate to the fluoridation of drinking water, any minimum or maximum acceptable values for the fluoride content:

(3) In section 69O(3), omit paragraph (c) and in paragraph (b) substitute "; but" with ".".

Explanatory Notes

General Policy Statement

This bill makes amendments to the Health Act 1956 to allow the Minister of Health to set national standards relating to the fluoridation of drinking water, subject to consultation. According to the Royal Society's scientific advice, fluoridation can facilitate "broad benefits in dental health" and "there are no adverse effects of fluoride of any significance arising from fluoridation at the levels used in New Zealand". Despite this apparent clear benefit, many local authorities do not make provision for the fluoridation of drinking water. National fluoridation standards will allow for such gaps to be closed so all members of society can reap the oral health benefits of fluoridated water.

Section by Section analysis

Section 1 is the title section

Section 2 is the commencement section. It provides for the bill to come into force immediately after it receives Royal Assent

Section 3 is the purpose section.

Section 4 outlines the Act this bill amends.

Section 5 makes the relevant amendments. The first and second amendments will allow the Minister of Health to set minimum amounts of fluoride to be within drinking water. The third amendment repeals the current prohibition on setting national drinking water standards as far as it concerns fluoridation.

B.1055 - Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill is authored by u/SoSaturnistic (ACT) and sponsored u/model-frod (ACT) on behalf of the government.

Committee will end 04/04/2021 at 11pm NZT.