WRITTEN QUESTION No. 841/99 by Kenneth COATES Fluoridation of Water
Date: 1999-04-07
Institutions: COATES, European Parliament
Subjects: EU Member State, European standard, drinking water, national law, quality standard, water treatment

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.