Progress Report On Implementing The Western Pacific Regional Food Safety Strategy 2011 2015

Food safety is a key component of public health. Ill health outcomes due to foodborne infectious diseases and food contamination are well documented. With growing globalization of the food trade, foodborne diseases do not stop at national borders. Food produced in one country may be processed in another, then transported and consumed in yet another country or several other countries. Mass production of farm animals for food production is also a potential source of health risks emanating at the human-animal interface. It is, therefore, clear that food safety is an essential element of health security. The current progress report provides information on the state of implementation of the Western Pacific Regional Food Safety Strategy 2011-2015 at its midterm, recognizing that food control system development is an ongoing process.

The Western Pacific Regional Food Safety Strategy 2011-2015 has contributed to good progress in food safety across the Western Pacific Region. However more than 125 million people fall ill and more than 50 000 die annually from unsafe food in the Region. Food safety is a highly complex health issue involving multiple domestic and international stakeholders. Over recent years new developments including the introduction of new technologies increasing internationalization of the food chain and demographic changes have affected food safety in the Region. The changing context of food safety affects food safety risk management as well as trust in the safety of the food supply. Food safety trust is a multifaceted issue and an outcome of effective food safety systems. At the same time it serves as an enabler for strengthening food safety systems to manage food safety risks and respond to food safety incidents and emergencies. The Regional Framework for Action on Food Safety in the Western Pacific builds on the achievement and lessons learnt from the 2011-2015 Strategy. It acknowledges the changing context of food safety and revisits the approach for strengthening national food safety systems. This includes a stronger focus on building trust and confidence in food safety systems and implementing strategic actions that create leadership partnerships competency and resources that are the necessary enablers for advancing food safety systems. The Framework provides guidance on strategic action and a stepwise approach to strengthen food safety systems to better manage food safety risks and respond to food safety incidents and emergencies. It is intended to guide national food safety authorities in implementation of strategic action to strengthen national food safety systems as well as to obtain and advocate for high-level political support to enhance food safety. It is also intended to facilitate regional cooperation among food safety authorities.

Clay’s Handbook of Environmental Health, since its first publication in 1933, has provided a definitive guide for the environmental health practitioner, or reference for the consultant or student. This 21th edition continues as a first point of reference, reviewing the core principles, techniques and competencies, and then outlining the specialist subjects. It has been refocused on the current curriculum of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Environmental Health but should also readily suit the generalist or specialist working outside the UK.

The Regional Framework for Action on Food Safety in the Western Pacific builds on the achievement and lessons learnt from the 2011-2015 Strategy. It acknowledges the changing context of food safety and revisits the approach for strengthening national food safety systems. This includes a stronger focus on building trust and confidence in food safety systems and implementing strategic actions that create leadership, partnerships, competency and resources that are the necessary enablers for advancing food safety systems.

The costs of the contamination of food for consumers, producers and processors can be high, in terms of health and exports. The issues of food safety have been highlighted in recent years, with the worldwide focus on mad cow disease and the associated development of vCJD in humans. This document identifies the WHO strategy for enhancing food safety in the Western Pacific. The strategy was endorsed and adopted by the Region's Member States at the fifty-second session of the Regional Committee in 2001. The strategy comprises 10 key components based upon risk assessment, risk management and risk communication.

Foodborne diseases takes a major toll on health. Thousands of millions of people fall ill and many die as a result of eating unsafe food. Deeply concerned by this a resolution was adopted by WHO and its Member States to recognize fod safety as an essential public health function and to develop a Global Strategy for reducing the burden of foodborne diseases.

This thoroughly revised Research Handbook on Climate Change Adaptation Law brings together leading scholars in the field to summarise and assess key topics including tort and insurance law, disaster law, water law and marine law as well as biodiversity law and pollution control.

Food Fortification in a Globalized World outlines experiences over the past 50 years—and future potential—for the application of food fortification across a variety of foods in the industrialized and developing world. The book captures recent science and applications trends in fortification, including emerging areas such as biofortification, nutraceuticals and new nutrient intake recommendations, standards, policy and regulation. The book proposes a balanced and effective food fortification strategy for nations to adopt. In covering the most technical scientific details in an approachable style, this work is accessible to a range of practitioners in industry, government, NGOs, academia and research. Food fortification has become an increasingly significant strategy to address gaps in micronutrient intakes in populations with measurable impact in both industrialized and developing countries. While the positive impacts are well recognized there are new concerns in some countries that excessive fortification of foods, outdated nutritional labeling rules and misleading marketing tactics used by food manufacturers may result in young children consuming harmful amounts of some vitamins and minerals. Presents the latest science on fortification for the prevention of micronutrient deficiencies Includes emerging areas such as biofortification, nutraceuticals and new nutrient intake recommendations, standards, regulations, practices and policies from around the world Summarizes evidence of application of food fortification and measured impact on public health Discusses how public policy impacts fortification of foods and nutritional deficiencies Considers the complex economics of and market for fortified foods