Today FAN is throwing its support behind an important initiative by attorney Gerald Steel to force the US Department of Heath and Human Services (HHS) (which includes the Food and Drug Administration, FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work together to comply with their statutory responsibilities under the Safe Drinking Water Act to protect the public from any harm that may be caused by fluoride in drinking water (either from fluoride added in fluoridation programs or present as a contaminant). These responsibilities have been muddied for 70 years.
Tell HHS and EPA to Protect the People from Fluoride
FAN’s First Campaign for 2015:
Please sign on to the email to HHS Secretary Burwell and EPA Administrator McCarthy asking them to reach a joint position regarding federal fluoridation jurisdiction.
Introduction
Once again, citizens who are concerned about the practice of using the public water supply to deliver medical or human treatment (including fluoride to prevent dental caries [tooth decay] disease) are calling upon leaders of U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to follow their statutory duties to protect the health of the people.
A contradiction over jurisdiction explained
HHS/FDA
Under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) HHS/FDA are responsible for regulating drugs – which include any substances designed to treat, prevent or mitigate disease. We want – and have the right to expect – that HHS/FDA will regulate such drugs for both safety and effectiveness when they are deliberately added to public drinking water. Eventually, Congress or the Courts should prohibit such additions because of violations to the individual’s right to informed consent to medication.
In a letter issued November 21, 2014, HHS quotes the FDA that “Congress did not intend for FDA to regulate the addition of fluoride to public drinking water for dental caries prevention as a drug under the FD&C Act.” The FDA bases this statement on its interpretation of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
EPA
The EPA interprets this Act differently. In a letter issued February 14, 2013, EPA states that under this Act, “The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the FDA, remains responsible for regulating the addition of drugs to water supplies for health care purposes.” HHS and FDA are required by law to accept the interpretation of this Act (SDWA) by EPA unless either can show that the EPA interpretation conflicts with a statute. No conflicts with statute have been suggested by HHS or FDA.
EMAIL TO HHS AND EPA
Attorney Gerald Steel, from Olympia, Washington, has created an email to HHS Secretary Burwell and EPA Administrator McCarthy asking them to reach a joint position regarding federal fluoridation jurisdiction. FAN is urging all our supporters and all those opposed to fluoridation around the world to sign on to this email.
Without prejudging the matter we believe that such discussions will force the HHS/FDA to regulate fluoridation chemical ADDITIVES as drugs that require New Drug Applications (NDAs). This in turn will require proof that fluoridation is safe and effective for all sub-populations who drink fluoridated water. We suspect that this will be very difficult to demonstrate – especially for subsets of the population like bottle-fed infants and the elderly – but that does not absolve HHS/FDA of their statutory requirements under the FD&C Act. A failure to make these determinations– or even to try -will demonstrate to both the public and Congress that they are willing to put the protection of the practice of water fluoridation over the well-being of the public.
Such discussions should also confirm that EPA has no direct role in any oversight of the fluoridation program as a medical procedure but it does retain the obligation under the SWDA to determine safe drinking water standards for fluoride as a natural or man-made contaminant (i.e. they need to determine a Maximum Contaminant level Goal or MCLG and Maximum Contaminant level, MCL). The US is still operating under the unprotective MCLG and MCL, determined in 1986. It is a matter of urgency that the EPA complete this new determination – and to do it using the most recent science.
Attorney Steel already has many signers on the proposed email, but would like to add you and/or your organization to our list of signers to show broad public support. You can read the proposed email, the attached letter issued November 21, 2014 and the attached letter issued February 14, 2013. If you are willing to be a signer, click here.
Paul Connett, PhD
Director,
Fluoride Action Network
Fundraiser details for Dec 30
With two days to go we still have a fighting chance of achieving our ambitious goal of raising $150,000 by midnight Dec 31.
Yesterday thanks to 31 very generous donations we were able to reach our mini-goal of $120,000. This triggered our “surprise bonanza fund” of $2,782 amassed by several super angels. So our current grand total stands at $122,782 from 647 donors.
Two days to raise $27,218 and to reach another 353 donors! Both are very tall orders and we can only keep our fingers crossed and hope.
To make a tax-deductible donation you can either:
- Donate online using our secure server.
- Or by check – please make checks payable to Fluoride Action Network and send to: FAN, 104 Walnut Street, Binghamton NY 13905
You can also choose one of the several premiums available at different donation levels.
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