This Supplementary Order Paper adds a consideration required of the Director-General of Health before making a direction to add or not add fluoride to drinking water, requiring the Director-General to consider the views of local health authorities where those authorities are legislated to represent the health interests of that region.

The Minister’s SOP No 38 shifts decision-making power from the local district health board, where the bill originally placed it, to the Director-General of Health. In doing so, the need for input from local health authorities like district health boards has not been recognised.

The additional requirement is framed to future-proof and be indifferent regarding the structure of the local health authorities, due to the Government’s proposal to end the district health board system.