The National Fluoride Information Service (NFIS) contract is ending on 20 January 2015.

“…the Ministry considers that it is no longer necessary to continue to fund the full range of independent scientific and advisory services that have been carried out under the NFIS agreement.”

“The Ministry notes that the science relevant to community water fluoridation has been stable and conclusive for many years, as verified by numerous international reports. Moreover, the NFIS reviews of published scientific literature have continued to validate the safety and effectiveness of community water fluoridation, and thus the appropriateness of the Ministry’s policy in New Zealand.”

“I would like to emphasise that the decision not to renew the NFIS agreement does not reflect adversely on the work done by Hutt Valley DHB and its consortium partners in the delivery of the independent National Fluoridation Information Service. On the contrary, the Ministry acknowledges the high quality of the work carried out and published under the auspices of NFIS.”

Full document here.

I’ve often heard a number of anti-fluoride myths about the NFIS, that their conclusions were “pro-fluoride” to keep them in a job. But the opposite has happened; the science relevant to CWF has been stable and conclusive that they are no longer needed.

Who is the NFIS?
They a consortium funded by the Ministry of Health (MoH). Led by Regional Public Health, it also includes the Hutt Valley DHB Community Dental Services, Environmental Science and Research, Centre for Public Health Research at Massey University and the National Poisons Centre. There is ongoing research and monitoring around the world looking at the effectiveness and safety of water fluoridation programmes. NFIS has been established to monitor and assess this work and to provide technical advice on these issues. NFIS will offer robust and independent scientific and technical information around water fluoridation to District Health Boards (DHBs) and Territorial Local Authorities (TLAs).