Food safety is increasingly becoming an international topic. Many countries have made it a national priority by creating special bodies to deal with it, or passing new laws. It is not a North/South problem; it is a global task and recently the World Health Organisation (WHO) has adopted a far-reaching programme strengthening its past activities in this area.
In an address to the recent 53rd World Health Assembly, WHO’s Director General Dr. Gro Brundtland stated “Political will when added to solid evidence can make a difference”. She urged health policy makers to enter the political process for several issues, including food safety.
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The World Health Assembly is the highest decision taking body of WHO and it is for the first time that it has discussed food safety to such an extent in this forum. The WHA adopted a comprehensive resolution that defines an action plan both for WHO and its Member States.
The countries agreed that food safety is an essential public health function, and in view of its international implications, WHO should reinforce its programmes and activities including its support to the Codex Alimentarius Commisssion, its technical cooperation with Member States and coordination of its work with other international organisations, notably the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
The World Health Assembly also urged Member States to develop and implement systematic and sustainable preventive measures aimed at significantly reducing the occurrence of foodborne illness mobilizing all stakeholders (farmers, manufacturers, consumers and public health services).
The Resolution also stresses the need for good, readily available scientific information. WHO and FAO, together with the national authorities, will work to guarantee that the scientific positions delivered meet the highest standards of transparency, excellence and independence. WHO has also been asked to respond immediately to inter-national and national food safety emergencies and to assist countries in crisis management.
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By GlobalDataIt was also decided to integrate food safety matters into health and nutrition education and information programmes for consumers, particularly within primary and secondary curricula and to initiate culture specific health and nutrition education programmes for food handlers, consumers, farmers, producers and agro-food industry personnel.
The WHA acknowledged the particular concerns of developing countries, including support to build up their capacities to fully participate in the work of Codex Alimentarius.
This important Resolution involving leading international organisations and national governments reinforces a network, that will be empowered to guarantee that an important topic such as food safety is given a high priority in a world where food is transported great distances from one country and one continent to another.
