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Washington State Board of Health declines multiple petitions on fluoride and drinking-water additives
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Summary
The State Board of Health on Jan. 14 declined nine petitions asking for new rules or scientific-assurance requirements related to fluoride and other additives in Group A public water supplies, directing staff to notify petitioners and to bring a review of the petitions policy for future refinement.
The Washington State Board of Health unanimously declined a group of nine petitions asking the Board to adopt new rules or internal procedures governing substances intentionally added to public drinking water, including fluoride, health and safety assurances, and multidisciplinary scientific review.
Board members framed the petitions as requests that would either duplicate federal authority or fall outside the Board’s statutory scope. Board Member Paj Nandi introduced the grouped petitions and staff summarized the requests, which included requirements for manufacturer assurances, cumulative-exposure assessments, and new Board processes for assuring safety before endorsing additives.
"Fluoridation is an essential pillar of public health, providing better oral health outcomes and less tooth decay," said public commenter Mariah Kunz, who urged the Board to deny petitions that would undermine community water fluoridation. By contrast, public commenters including Bill Osmunson questioned Board trust and raised broader doubts about federal and state guidance; Osmunson displayed consumer fluoride product labeling and said, "50% of what we teach you is wrong; we just don’t know which 50%."
Board members pushed back on factual points and jurisdictional overreach. Member Stephen Kutz disputed a petitioner’s claim about the Food and Drug Administration, noting the FDA guidance on fluoride use in young children is nuanced (the agency does not recommend supplemental fluoride for those under age three). Several members said asking the Board to set new safety‑assurance processes would effectively require the Board to become a national-level evaluator and urged petitioners to pursue statutory change if they wanted a different standard.
For each petition (numbered 25–33 in the packet), the Board voted to decline and directed staff to notify the petitioners of the decision. Chair Patty Hayes also suggested staff bring a review of the Board’s Petition Policy to a future meeting to help clarify what falls within the Board’s rulemaking authority and to reduce repetitive petitions on similar topics.
The Board’s formal decline motions were recorded as unanimous. Staff will inform petitioners of the outcome and return to the Board with recommended updates to petition-handling procedures at a later date.