S.A. - Draft laws drawn up on water fluoridation
Draft laws drawn up on water fluoridation
Published in: Legalbrief Today
Date: Wed 14 March 2007
Category: Legislation
Issue No: 1785
The controversial issue of water fluoridation is back in the news after the Department of Health has drawn up new draft regulations that could compel big towns and cities to dose their drinking water with fluoride.
The Pretoria News notes that the draft regulations do make allowances for smaller towns to be exempted from fluoridation because of prohibitive costs, and there are also provisions for exemptions if the natural water fluoride levels comply with government guidelines. However, the draft law states members of the National Fluoridation Committee ‘shall not be liable in respect of anything done in good faith under these regulations’. The question of legal liability in the event of toxic overdoses or cumulative health damage has been a source of concern for several interest groups. The new draft laws were circulated recently to water boards and municipalities. But the latest version appears to contain few changes to previous regulations which were rejected by several large water supply boards and other groups opposed to the compulsory medication of national drinking water supplies. The original plan for compulsory fluoridation was due to take effect in September 2003, but was shelved following widespread concern about the cost implications for water suppliers along with several concerns about health.
Full Pretoria News report
Published in: Legalbrief Today
Date: Wed 14 March 2007
Category: Legislation
Issue No: 1785
The controversial issue of water fluoridation is back in the news after the Department of Health has drawn up new draft regulations that could compel big towns and cities to dose their drinking water with fluoride.
The Pretoria News notes that the draft regulations do make allowances for smaller towns to be exempted from fluoridation because of prohibitive costs, and there are also provisions for exemptions if the natural water fluoride levels comply with government guidelines. However, the draft law states members of the National Fluoridation Committee ‘shall not be liable in respect of anything done in good faith under these regulations’. The question of legal liability in the event of toxic overdoses or cumulative health damage has been a source of concern for several interest groups. The new draft laws were circulated recently to water boards and municipalities. But the latest version appears to contain few changes to previous regulations which were rejected by several large water supply boards and other groups opposed to the compulsory medication of national drinking water supplies. The original plan for compulsory fluoridation was due to take effect in September 2003, but was shelved following widespread concern about the cost implications for water suppliers along with several concerns about health.
Full Pretoria News report
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9:24 AM
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