Folic acid steering group established by Department

The Department of Health has set up a steering group to lead the implementation of policy recommendations in the folic acid policy committee’s report of 2019.

The steering group, which was established in late 2024, is chaired by the Deputy Secretary General. An expert advisory panel is chaired by Prof Michael Turner. 

The work is being co-led by the Department’s food and environmental health unit and the health and wellbeing unit.

“The group’s primary focus will be to consider the four policy recommendations and to direct working groups to develop action plans required to deliver all four recommendations,” a Department spokesperson told the Medical Independent.

On completion of its work and the work of the subgroups, the steering group will produce a final report for the attention of the Minister. This report will contain recommendations for the preferred options to meet the overall objective of improving folic acid uptake to reduce neural tube defects (NTDs)
in Ireland.

In 2019, the folic acid policy committee recommended the development of population guidelines for folate in pregnancy, including for at-risk groups. It also recommended appropriate information campaigns for the public and healthcare professionals; consideration of the requirements for surveillance of NTDs and dietary folate intakes; and consideration of the requirements for food fortification with folate.

In September 2023, senior clinicians in the HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme wrote to the CMO stating that a failure by countries to fortify foodstuffs “is more than a missed opportunity, it is a tragedy”.

The previous Irish government stated that several issues needed to be deliberated before further consideration was given to mandatory fortification, including food consumption patterns and supply chain issues. In addition, it was noted that Ireland received most of its flour from the UK.

In November 2024, the UK introduced legislation requiring millers and flour producers to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid from the end of 2026. This measure will not replace NHS advice on folic acid supplementation.