The New Zealand Ministry of Health relies heavily on US advice on water fluoridation, but the scientific credibility of the key US Government agency promoting fluoridation has been questioned by Santa Fe city council.

The Council has voted 6 to 1 to end 60 years of fluoridation, saying it was outdated, a waste of money, and unsafe. The Mayor said of the Centers for Disease Control, the Government agency whose small oral health unit continues to control fluoridation policy, ``If we don`t think the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] is a credible scientific organization, then I guess we don`t. They say this is a safe level of fluoride and we believe this is just not true.``

``In spite of overwhelming scientific evidence that fluoridation is ineffective and poses serious health risks, many New Zealand councils continue to be reluctant to go against the Ministry of Health on the issue, or just blindly follow them, even though the statutory decision rests with councils, not the Ministry``, says Mary Byrne of health activist group Fluoride Action Network NZ.

``The MoH seems to have a `deny everything` policy toward any research that would threaten its outdated policy. The Ministry has zero scientific credibility when it comes to fluoridation. It is high time councillors in the remaining fluoridated New Zealand areas provided some real leadership and stopped subjecting their residents to this unapproved, highly toxic medication`` says Ms Byrne.

Fluoride chemicals added to drinking water are classified as `class one hazardous waste` in the USA and `hazardous waste` in Australia. They `have never been tested for human health safety`, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.