Folic acid steering group report expected in 2026

The final report of the folic acid steering group is due to be published in 2026, according to the Department of Health.

The steering group is leading the development of an overarching strategy to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) through “increased intake of folic acid to improve blood folate levels in women of childbearing age”. The steering group is supported by an expert advisory panel and four working groups.

A Department spokesperson commented: “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, recommending the preferred option(s) to meet the overall objective of improving folic acid uptake to reduce NTDs in Ireland and action plans to progress the recommendations.”

In 2019, a folic acid policy committee convened by the Department made recommendations to help prevent NTDs, including appropriate information campaigns for the public and healthcare professionals, and consideration of the requirements for food fortification.

Folic acid deficiency is a leading cause of NTDs, which can result in a number of serious conditions to babies in the womb, including spina bifida.

In the UK, the fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid will be legally required from December 2026. It is estimated that this will reduce NTDs by 20 per cent and improve the health of pregnant women.

Fortification of flour with folic acid is intended as a population measure to support, and not replace, current supplementation advice for individuals. It is estimated that half of all pregnancies in the UK are unplanned. The new regulations will “help provide women with a higher baseline intake of folic acid, better protecting their babies in all scenarios”, according to the UK government.

Ireland currently imports approximately 50 per cent of its flour from the UK. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has published consumer advice on the UK development. The FSAI advice states that women of childbearing age in Ireland should continue to take a daily 400µg folic acid supplement.