WRITTEN QUESTION No. 841/99 by Kenneth COATES Fluoridation of Water
21. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 370/125 More globally speaking, the euro bond market has grown larger and more liquid, allowing new issuers, in particular companies, to tap it. The euro corporate bond market is currently soaring. To a lesser extent, and with a slower pace, the same positive evolution can be observed on the equity market. In spite of the short term weakening of its external value, the euro is already considered by financial investors to be one of the two leading world currencies. (1999/C 370/173) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0841/99 by Kenneth Coates (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (7 April 1999) Subject: Fluoridation of Water What is the attitude of the Commission towards the fluoridation of water supplies? To what extent, if any, has fluoridation been introduced in the various Member States? Do any Member States ban this process? If so, on what grounds? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (29 April 1999) Drinking water quality is regulated in the Community by Council Directive 80/778/EEC of 15 July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption (1), which will be replaced by 25 December 2003 by the recently adopted new Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 (2). In both Directives there is a limit concerning the maximum admissible concentration of fluoride in drinking water, regardless of its origin, i. e. naturally present or artificially added. The fluoridation of water supplies lies within the Member States’ responsibility and the Commission is not concerned as long as the limit set out in the Directive is respected. Unquestionably, fluoridation is a controversial issue because of the positive or negative effects fluoride might have, depending on its concentration in the drinking water. The limit set out in the Drinking Water Directive is 1,5 milligrammes per liter (mg/l), which, according to the view of the World health organisation (WHO) as expressed in its drinking water quality guidelines, represents a good balance between the positive and negative effects of fluoride. Positive effects start around 0,5mg/l up to 2 mg/l. The more the concentration exceeds 2mg/l the more the risk of negative effects is increased. As far as fluoridation in the Member States is concerned, the Commission has launched an investigation into the matter in order to provide as complete a reply as possible to the Honourable Member. At present, on the basis of the information gathered, the situation is that in Belgium fluoridation is not allowed (fluoride is not included in the positive list of substances that can be added to drinking water); in Denmark it is banned; in Germany it is permitted but decision is left to local regional government; in Greece an old law (1974) required fluoridation for cities with population of more than 10 000 people however this law has never been activated because of the controversy of the issue; in Spain it is permitted but the decision is left to each autonomous region; in France it is banned for ethical reasons; in Italy there is no specific law banning or authorising fluoridation; in Luxembourg there is no specific ban, but as fluoride is not in the positive list of substances legislation should be amended if a company considered artificial fluoridation (fluoridation is not an issue of concern for this Member State); in the Netherlands it is not allowed (similar situation as in Belgium); and in the United Kingdom it is permitted but decision is left to local health authorities. (1) OJ L 229, 30. 8. 1980. (2) OJ L 330, 5. 12. 1998