HC Deb 08 September 2003 vol 410 cc305-6W
Mr. Hayes

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the effects of water fluoridation on farm businesses. [128171]

Mr. Morley

Fluorine is a natural environmental contaminant and both feeding stuffs and water for livestock contain fluorides. Some fertilisers and ingredients of livestock and poultry diets contain relatively high concentrations of fluorides. Drinking water limits are designed to accommodate exposure to other sources of fluorides in the diet and in the environment. The best available evidence suggests that safe upper fluoride concentrations in livestock and poultry drinking water are up to 2 mg/l.

If the water fluoridation provisions in the Water Bill before Parliament were enacted, all local farmers or their representative organisations would be able to participate in public local consultations. There would be no new water fluoridation schemes unless the majority of the local population were in favour. Arrangements for the conduct of local consultations, and the assessment of public opinion will be set out in regulations under powers in the Water Bill. It will also be possible to alter the target fluoride concentration by statutory instrument.