International Relations
This Working Group has been established, for a 5-year period, after an initial meeting in September 2006, and publication recommending the establishment of FERG. Its importance is in helping deliver the internationally-agreed Millennium Development Goals, focusing on the need to reduce the debilitating effects of foodborne disease, limiting human wellbeing, potential and life worldwide, and particularly constraining successful economic development of developing countries.
Please click here to read the full report in the latest issue of Newsline
The CCNFSDU 29th session, chaired by Germany, met to consider a range of topics for the Codex Alimentarius Commission. These topics included a definition of dietary fiber, gluten-free foods, the scientific basis for health claims, risk analysis principles for nutrition and foods for special dietary uses, nutrient reference values for labeling purposes, production and processing standards regarding the nutritional quality and safety of foods, and the general principles for the addition of essential nutrients to foods.
The 29th session was attended by 278 delegates from 71 Codex member countries and the European Commission (EC) and 26 international non-governmental observer organizations. The agenda and most background papers for the meeting are available on the Codex website, www.codexalimentarius.net. The report of the meeting adopted by attending Codex member countries is also available on the Codex website.
Please click here to read the full report in the latest issue of Newsline
Global Scientific Challenges: Perspectives from Young Scientists, organized by The International Council for Science (ICSU) last year brought together 29 different scientific disciplines, representing 71 countries. The topics for discussion came under a number of key themes: building bridges within the scientific community; building bridges between science and the world; working for the private sector and scientific freedom and responsibilities. Experiences, lessons learned and much debate from the 142 young scientists were key to making this conference a huge success.
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The ICSU regional consultation on Science Plans was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand in late November 2007 with the objective to seek views and comments on the draft Science Plans for Asia and Pacific region in short (3 years) and medium term (6 years) which included 3 priority areas. The priority areas focused on the draft Science Plans are hazards and disasters, ecosystem approach and sustainable energy. The section of the Science Plans which is most relevant to the food industry is on Ecosystem Approach in Water Management and Food Production Systems in Asia and the Pacific Region. Hence this report will only focus on the Science Plans on Ecosystem.
The goal of the Science Plan on Ecosystem is to provide a science plan for the ICSU Regional Office – ROAP (Regional Office Asia and the Pacific) that can be used to promote and mainstream the ecosystem approach for the water management and food systems towards sustainability.
The long-term goal of ICSU in planning and coordinating research to address major issues globally is to ensure a more coordinated and inclusive approach to research on the environment such that the necessary high-quality scientific evidence is made available to the policy makers. The ecosystem approach provides the unifying conceptual framework for all the aspects mentioned above and through it ICSU will have the opportunity to develop new programmes in key areas of concern and interest to Asia and the Pacific.
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For the full report, please visit the World of Food Science at www.worldfoodscience.org
The Beijing Declaration on Food Safety was adopted at the conclusion of the High-level International Forum on Food Safety that was held in Beijing, 26 and 27 November 2007. The forum brought together senior officials from more than 50 countries and international organizations to review the major issues related to food safety. By adopting the Beijing Declaration, the meeting participants demonstrated the high-level political commitment of WHO Member States to resolving food safety problems through positive international collaboration rather than inefficient bilateral measures. The declaration urges all countries to develop comprehensive capacities to protect consumers from foodborne hazards from production to consumption, from routine to emergency, and from domestic to international. Among other recommendations, the declaration urges all countries to actively participate in the WHO/FAO International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) to share information on emerging food safety issues and experience about best practices. Also important is rapid exchange of information on food safety incidents and emergencies, especially those that fall under the International Health Regulations. INFOSAN presently counts 165 Member States and continues to build linkages with other networks, such as the OIE/FAO/WHO Global Early Warning System for Major Animal Diseases (GLEWS). In addition, the declaration urged countries to assess exposure of their populations to potentially toxic chemicals in their food supplies, especially by undertaking Total Diet Studies. WHO cosponsored the forum in collaboration with the Chinese Ministry of Health (MOH) and State Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine.
Click here for more excerpts from this report in the latest issue of Newsline
For the full report, please visit the World of Food Science at www.worldfoodscience.org
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