Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD has today launched an online public consultation seeking the views and opinions of the public and of industry on the mandatory fortification of non wholemeal flour with folic acid, to help reduce the incidence of neural tube defects in Ireland. Neural tube defects include conditions such as spina bifida, anencephaly, encephalocele and iniencephaly.

Neural tube defects can occur when the spinal cord does not develop properly during early pregnancy. Ireland has a higher-than-average rate of occurrence of neural tube defects compared with the rest of Europe. Research has shown that sufficient folic acid intake may help reduce the incidence of neural tube defects.

This public consultation provides an important opportunity for members of the public, to provide their views on the proposed fortification of non wholemeal flour with folic acid to help reduce the incidence of neural tube defects in Ireland. We are also interested in the views of ‘food industry’ and related business operators to know how flour fortification with folic acid may affect their activities, along with input on any measures that could help businesses adapt to the new fortification requirements.

Submissions received through this process will be considered and may be used to inform future policy and legislation regarding mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid.

Survey link and other information.

 Closing date: 5.00PM on 5 October 2026.