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, 26th April 2006

Present:	Dr Seamus O’Hickey (Chairman), Dr Wayne Anderson, Mr Greg Canning, Dr Gerard Gavin, Mr Colm Keenan, Mr Denis Lyons, Mr Stephen McDermott, Professor Denis O’Mullane, Ms Ursula O’Dwyer, Mr Ray Parle, Dr Margaret Shannon, Mr Luke Varley

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

Apologies:	Dr Paul Beirne, Councillor Jack Bourke, Professor John Clarkson, Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Dr Joe Mullen, Dr Brian O’Herlihy, Ms Biddy O’Neill, Ms Martina Queally, Mr Rowland Reece

EB Minute 12/06:  Apologies

Apologies for the meeting were noted.

EB Minute 13/06:  Minutes of the last meeting (22nd February 2006)

These minutes were agreed. They were then signed by the Chairman. 

EB Minute 14/06:  Matters Arising

The meeting was informed that following the DOH&C approval of the draft amended Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations they will then be circulated to Expert Body members for their information.

EB Minute 15/06:  Correspondence

Correspondence from Dr Helen Whelton, Oral Health Services Research Centre, inviting the Expert Body to participate in a new project to develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the Public Dental Service was noted by the Body.  It was agreed unanimously that Professor O’Mullane was best placed to represent the Body.  It was further agreed that the Chairman would contact Dr Whelton to provide her with details of the nomination.

Dr Whelton’s letter also invited a response from the Expert Body to the documentation attaching to her letter, namely draft scopes for the topical fluoride and high caries risk guidelines.  It was agreed the Executive Committee, along with other Expert Body members and the Secretariat will prepare a response.

The review article regarding the Expert Body’s Action Plan 2005 published in the Journal of the Oral Health Promotion Research Group (UK) was noted.  It was agreed that the Secretariat will circulate copies of this article to the members of the Expert Body.

It was agreed that the Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion Sub-committee will draft a report on coverage on the Expert Body’s Action Plan 2005.

EB Minute 16/06:  Report of Sub-committee

The Quality Assurance Sub-committee reported the following:

•	The Draft Code of Practice has been sent out for consultation with the stakeholders eg HSE and Local Authorities.  Comments are to be submitted to the Secretariat by 12th May 2006.

•	Draft Protocol for the Independent Testing of HFSA as drafted by the Quality Assurance Sub-committee, Public Analyst Laboratory and the Secretariat, sent out for consultation with the stakeholders ie PCCC, Population Health Directorate and the Central Procurement Department of the HSE.

•	The meeting was informed that the draft amendments to the Fluoridation Regulations have been finalised and the DOH&C are awaiting legal advice.  Following completion of the new Regulations, they will be laid before the Oireachtas.  It was noted that there will be a single regulation covering all public water supply schemes. All existing regulations will be revoked.

•	The Chair of the Quality Assurance Sub-committee informed the meeting that following a presentation by Dr Dympna Kavanagh, HSE, Western Area, on ‘Fluoride Delivery Systems and Amendments to the Regulations’ to the Sub-committee that a system of monitoring should be set-up to identify people who do not received fluoride through their water supply and what action may need to be taken.

•	A pre-audit questionnaire, which will be based on the Code of Practice, is now being developed by the Sub-committee to allow plants to self-audit.  This will allow plants to identify any potential in-house issues and handle them appropriately.  Discussion ensued in relation to the issue of non compliant plants and how they would be best dealt with. It was agreed to give this matter further consideration.

•	It was noted that the Food Safety Authority is concerned the new Fluoride Regulations reducing the water fluoridation levels, as recommended by the Forum on Fluoridation Report (2002) would not be implemented by June 2006.  It was agreed that in order to process this matter speedily the Quality Assurance Sub-committee would progress any related matters and inform the Expert Body accordingly rather than wait for the next Plenary meeting on 14th June next. 

The Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion Sub-committee reported the following:

•	It was agreed that members would forward their comments in relation to the Draft Communications Strategy to the Secretariat by 5.00pm, 24th May next to be considered by the  Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion at their next meeting on 7th June next.  It was agreed that comments already received by the Secretariat in this regard would also be discussed at this meeting.  

•	An account of work to date on the draft Communications Strategy and media monitoring was given by the Secretariat.  

•	It was noted that the consultation process on Food Fortification with Folic Acid in Ireland was nearing completion and was expected by the end of May 2006.

The New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee reported the following:

•	A paper on water fluoridation and osteosarcoma was provided to the Expert Body by Dr O’Herlihy for review of evidence remit.

•	It was noted that the drafting of a research proposal addressing measurement of total fluoride intake is underway and is scheduled for the next NEI meeting on 9th May 2006.

•	Feedback from the ‘Framework for effective use of fluorides in the People’s Republic of China’, Beijing Meeting of 13th – 15th March 2006 was given to the Expert Body.  

•	It was noted that a report on the WHO Fluoride Symposium is being compiled.  The Secretariat will request this document when available and circulate it to the membership.

The Executive Committee reported the following:

•	Comments had been invited by the Chairman on the draft document on the Role of the Executive Committee.  This document was unanimously adopted.  It was agreed to remove the item regarding affiliations of Executive Committee members.

•	It was agreed that Professor Denis O’Mullane become a member of the Executive Committee.  This nomination was accepted by Professor O’Mullane.

EB Minute 17/06:  Update on EU Proposal – Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods

•	The meeting was informed that the DOH&C will provide a briefing note to the Secretariat for circulation to the Expert Body.  It was noted that the draft text which has been approved by the Council still includes fluoride on the list of additives.

EB Minute 18/06:  Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standards

•	It was agreed that the Report would be considered by the NEI Sub-committee at their next meeting on 9th May 2006 and reported back to the Expert Body at their next meeting of 14th June 2006.

•	It was further agreed that the Quality Assurance Sub-committee would consider how the position outlined in the Report can be communicated.

EB Minute 19/06:  AOB

•	A briefing on the internet’s new ‘eu domain’ was given to the Expert Body. The Secretariat have secured a .eu address for the Expert Body, www.fluoridesandhealth.eu.  This web address will link users to the current Expert Body website, www.fluoridesandhealth.ie 

•	A briefing on the latest information relating to the Health Information Quality Authority was given to the meeting.

EB Minute 20/06:  Date of next meeting

The next plenary meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 14th June 2006 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 12:45pm.

Signed:	______________________________

Date: 		______________________________