Minutes of proceedings of the Plenary Meeting of the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health held in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, No 6 Kildare Street, 
Dublin 2 on Wednesday, 17th October 2007

Present:	Dr Seamus O’Hickey (Chairman), Dr Brian O’Herlihy (Vice-Chair), Councillor Jack Bourke, Professor John Clarkson, Mr Michael Kilcoyne, Mr Denis Lyons, Mr Stephen McDermott, Dr Joe Mullen, Dr Máire O’Connor, Ms Ursula O’Dwyer, Mr Ray Parle, Mr Rowland Reece, Dr Justin Roche 

In attendance: 	Ms Deirdre Sadlier, Ms Patricia-Gilsenan-O’Neill, Ms Etain Kett, Secretariat

Apologies:	Dr Wayne Anderson, Ms Hilary Coates, Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Mr Colm Keenan, Professor Denis O’Mullane, Ms Martina Queally, Dr Margaret Shannon, Mr Matt Twomey

EB Minute 33/07:  Apologies
Apologies for the meeting were noted.

EB Minute 34/07:  Minutes of the last meeting (13th June 2007)
These minutes were agreed and were then signed by the Chairman.

EB Minute 35/07:  Matters Arising
It was noted that a response to the correspondence received from Caroline Sellars, Public Health Division, Department of Health and Children to Deirdre Sadlier, Director, Secretariat on 30th April 2007 regarding a query received by the Department on water fluoridation was forwarded to the Department on 12th July 2007.  (EB Minute 27/07 refers).

EB Minute 36/07:  Correspondence
Correspondence was noted from Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Chairman to Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Principal Officer, Public Health Division, Department of Health and Children dated 16th July 2007 regarding Hazardous Toothpastes that potentially could reach the Irish market.

Mr Darragh Page, the Environmental Protection Agency’s representative on the Expert Body resignation letter dated 17th August 2007 was noted.  It was further noted that Mr Page’s membership of the Quality Assurance Sub-committee was of critical importance to the work of that particular Sub-committee. It was agreed that the Expert Body would write to Mr Page to acknowledge his contribution to the Body.  It was further agreed that the Expert Body would write to the Department of Health and Children to notify them of Mr Page’s resignation and request a replacement member from the Environmental Protection Agency.  The matter of Expert Body membership in general should also be raised.

Correspondence between Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Principal Officer, Public Health Division, Department of Health and Children and Ms Deirdre Sadlier, Director, Secretariat, dated 23rd July and 11th July 2007 was noted concerning the new Programme for Government and updates on the research the Expert Body is currently prioritising.  It was noted that the Executive Committee had agreed to assign this matter to the NEI Sub-committee, this was agreed by the Expert Body.

EB Minutes 37/07: Report of the Sub-committees
The Quality Assurance Sub-committee reported the following:
•	It was noted that the Code of Practice has been published and circulated to all the relevant stakeholders
•	It was noted that the HSE has undertaken to put in place the Independent Testing of HFSA.
•	It was noted that the closing date for receipt of tenders for the National Audit of Water Fluoridation Treatment Plants is 24th October 2007.  All local authorities have been requested to complete a pre-audit questionnaire prior to the commencement of the National Audit.
•	An update was given on the HSE Water Fluoridation Steering Committee.  The membership of the group will include representatives of the HSE and Local Authorities.  It was noted that Mr Stephen McDermott, Dr Joe Mullen and Mr Ray Parle are all members of the group representing the HSE.

The New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee reported the following:
•	It was noted that the results of the study conducted by the Oral Health Services Research Centre on behalf of the Department of Health and Children regarding the fluoride intake in infants were similar to the results of the risk assessment undertaken by Anderson et al for the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.  Thus, this study helps to validate the results of the risk assessment.  It was agreed that the NEI Sub-committee will review this study in full at their next meeting on 29th November 2007 and make their recommendation to the Plenary Body.
•	The Expert Body’s holding statement on infant formula and fluoridated water was noted.
•	The British Fluoridation Society have explained that the range for sub optimal fluoride levels in water (the level of fluoride that gives some dental benefit) is 0.3 – 0.7mg/l and that this is the reasoning behind the suggested alternative of a low fluoride bottled water (i.e. fluoride less than 0.3mg/l) in assisting parents/carers who wish to further reduce the small risk of fluorosis.
•	It was noted the article “Tap water warnings for baby formula” which appeared in the Irish Examiner on 5th October 2007 misrepresented information regarding water fluoridation by the British Fluoridation Society.  The BFS have since written to the Examiner requesting the opportunity to rectify this misrepresentation.  It was agreed that it may be necessary to write to the Examiner if a follow-up article from the British Fluoridation Society does not appear.
•	It was noted that the Food Safety Authority has written to the maternity hospitals to advise them that tap water is safe to reconstitute infant formula.
•	The article “Adding Fluoride to Water Supplies” by KK Cheng, Ian Chalmers and Trevor A Sheldon which appeared in the British Medical Journal was noted.

The Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion Sub-committee reported the following:
•	It was noted that the Q&A leaflet was signed off by the Executive Committee and was now subject to clarification regarding the EU Directive 2007/53/EC of 29th August 2007 amending Council Directive 76/768/EEC. 
•	A briefing on the EU Directive was given by the Secretariat.  It was noted that an EU Scientific Committee responsible for Consumer Products was involved in the drafting of the Directive.  It was further noted that “Member States shall adopt and publish by 19 April 2008 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions together with a correlation table of those provisions and this Directive They shall apply those provisions from 19 January 2009.
Concern was raised over the wording of the Directive as it appears to be directly in conflict with the Forum on Fluoridation Report (2002) recommendations.  It was noted that this matter fell under the remit of the Department of Health and Children and it was thus agreed that it should be brought to their urgent attention.  It was agreed that the Chairman would discuss the matter in detail with Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Principal Officer, Public Health Division, Department of Health and Children.  It was further agreed to advise Mr Fitzgerald that the Expert Body could to write to the EU Scientific Committee directly, if this was agreed by the Department as appropriate action it was agreed that the Executive Committee should draft a letter and forward it to the Plenary Body for approval.  It was further noted that it was previously agreed at the Executive Committee meeting on 3rd October 2007 that the Secretariat had written to the Dental Advisor, Department of Health and Children seeking legal advice on this matter, it was agreed that the response received from the Department would be brought to the attention of the Chairman and Executive Committee.  Additionally, it was agreed to seek legal advice on the wording from Professor William Binchy the legal advisor on the Expert Body.  
•	Media coverage from June to October was noted.

Ad Hoc Committee – Oral Health Care Industry reported the following:
•	It was noted that the Ad Hoc Committee is currently reviewing Recommendation 3 of the Forum on Fluoridation Report.  

The Ad-hoc Committee to develop Priority Research reported the following:
•	It was noted that there is a requirement to have the baseline research in place as soon as possible as the Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations 2007 came into effect on 1st July 2007.
•	It was noted that Dr Anthony Staines and Dr Dympna Kavanagh have been invited to join the Ad Hoc Committee to participate in the evaluation of tenders submitted.
•	It was further noted that the closing date for receipt of tenders was 15th October 2007 and they will be opened on 17th October 2007.  Prior to the opening of the tenders the draft selection criteria prepared by the Committee will be formally agreed.  Additionally, it was noted that an external international expert will be appointed to aid in the evaluation of tenders.

EB Minute 38/07:  Report of Executive Committee
•	An oral Report on the Executive Committee’s meeting held on 3rd October 2007 was given by the Secretariat.
•	It was noted that interviews to fill the current vacancy in the Secretariat were held on Friday, 5th October 2007.  It was further noted that the Secretariat was in the final stages of recruiting a candidate.
•	It was noted that the response to Mr Billy Waters’ email query received on 23rd April 2007 was currently with the Expert Body Chairman.  It was agreed to forward a copy of the response to the Minister for Health and Children for her information.
•	Correspondence was noted to Mr Donal Bergin, Editor, Irish Medical News from Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Chairman dated 13th September 2007 notifying Mr Bergin that an article they had run entitled ‘Govt Must Act on Water Fluoridation’ from Mr Robert Pocock contained some inaccuracies on the level of research studies to monitor water fluoridation, its effects to our children’s health and defining fluoride as a medicine.
•	An invitation to the CECDO Meeting on 21st to 23rd November 2007 to the Expert Body dated 19th September 2007 was noted.  It was agreed that Dr Joe Mullen would attend the meeting on behalf of the Expert Body.
•	It was agreed that the type of wording used in the Q&A leaflet should be consistent with that used in the Forum on Fluoridation Report (2002).  Additionally, it was noted that the leaflet should be consistent with the Ad Hoc Committee on Oral Health Care Industry’s findings.  Following these final amendments it was agreed that the Q&A Leaflet would be tabled at the Plenary Meeting on 17th October next.
•	It was reported that the Secretariat had written to the Dental Advisor, Department of Health and Children seeking legal advice on this matter, it was agreed that the response received from the Department would be brought to the attention of the Chairman and Executive Committee.  This response remains outstanding to-date.
•	A Press Release issued by the Minister O’Keeffe’s Office regarding the Water Services Investment Programme was noted and it was agreed that this should be assigned to the Quality Assurance Sub-committee for further review.
•	Health in Europe: A Strategic Approach produced by the European Commission Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General was noted.  It was agreed to assign this Strategy to the NEI Sub-committee for their consideration.
•	It was noted that the Chairman and the Director, Secretariat were currently holding informal meetings with the oral health care industry sector to ensure accurate information..
•	An oral briefing on the European Association of Dental Public Health (EADPH) held in Belgium from 20th – 22nd September 2007 was given by the Chairman.

EB Minute 39/07:  Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health – Progress Report
•	The latest draft of the Expert Body Progress Report was tabled.  It was agreed that the Plenary Body would review the document and provide feedback to the Secretariat by Friday, 2nd November 2007.

EB Minute 40/07:  New National Oral Health Policy
•	Professor Clarkson gave a briefing on the launch of the Policy development which is scheduled for Thursday, 18th October next in Croke Park.
•	It was noted that a letter will be issued to the Expert Body asking for details of its role and functions in due course as part of the Policy development.

EB Minute 41/07:  National Oral Health Survey of Irish Adults 2000 - 2002
•	Dr Helen Whelton, Director, Oral Health Services Research Centre, University College Cork presented the results of the Survey.

EB Minute 42/07:  AOB
•	It was noted that a holding statement had been prepared in relation to a piece that had appeared on Highland Radio referring to a study prepared by Dr Andrew Rynne.  It was agreed to review the transcript to see if it was necessary to issue the statement.
•	The Secretariat gave a briefing on the ‘Ireland At Risk’ report prepared by the Irish Academy of Engineers.  The Report refers to how climate change will effect Irish waters and the Academy have made a number of recommendations in this regard.  It was agreed that the Report would be passed to the Quality Assurance Sub-committee to be reviewed.

EB Minute 43/07:  Date of Next Meeting
The next Plenary Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 27th February 2008 commencing at 10:30am in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, No 6 Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

The Chairman thanked all for their attendance and declared the meeting closed at 1:00pm.

Signed:	______________________________

Date: 		______________________________