Regional Framework For Action On Food Safety In The Western Pacific

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.

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.

Environmental determinants of health are responsible for more than a quarter of the burden of disease in the Western Pacific Region. Communicable and noncommunicable disease disability and death result from a lack of safe water and sanitation indoor and outdoor air pollution hazardous chemicals occupational hazards and climate-related disasters. The Western Pacific Regional Framework for Action on Health and Environment on a Changing Planet intends to relaunch the World Health Organization (WHO) s Health and the Environment programme and fulfil its mandate in the area of environmental health. It proposes to leverage the health sector focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) process providing guidance for prioritizing the work of WHO in support of Member States improving health outcomes through action on environmental determinants. It articulates entry points for health and environment priority actions in WHO country cooperation strategies the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other mechanisms for international collaboration and notably with the United Nations Environment Programme and ministries of environment. The framework also sets a course for the health sector to advocate adaptive measures policies and action to protect health and well-being as a co-benefit of interventions in energy agriculture transport housing and other spheres.

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 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.

This report strengthens the economic case for increased public investment and more robust policy attention to food safety in low and middle income countries and provides guidance on ways to achieve significant, broad-based impact from such actions.