I wish to update the House that on Thursday 14 November the Government laid legislation to fortify flour with folic acid to reduce the risk of life-changing conditions in pregnancies, such as spina bifida. Neural tube defects happen in the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows that she is pregnant. These can be devastating conditions for individuals and their families.
Flour is already fortified with calcium, niacin, thiamine and iron for public health reasons. Adding folic acid will mean foods made with non-wholemeal wheat flour, such as bread, will actively help avoid around 200 neural tube defects each year—around 20% of the annual UK total.
This significant development in improving the health outcomes for women and babies has been many years in its development and many Members across both Houses have shown a keen interest in its progression. I am extremely pleased we have now reached the point of implementation and acknowledge the dedication and efforts of all those involved.
We have worked in close collaboration with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, as well as colleagues in devolved Governments, to agree this policy. These changes will be implemented by DEFRA through the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 in England and similar legislation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be brought forward very soon. The legislation on folic acid will come into effect across all four nations in December 2026, giving industry 24 months to implement the changes.
The 24-month implementation period is in recognition of the considerable efforts required by industry to add folic acid to flour and relabel the large number of products that contain flour. The Government will continue to engage with industry on these challenges.
There is strong evidence that many neural tube defects can be prevented by increasing women’s intake of folic acid, which is why existing pregnancy advice to women who are trying to conceive or who are likely to become pregnant is to take a daily supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid before conception and up until week 12 of pregnancy. We will continue to offer this advice as the fortification of flour is intended to support, not replace, current supplementation advice for individuals.
These changes will also support the Government’s commitment to improving women’s health and their ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.
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