CI Food Safety and Nutrition
programme
2013
Satya Sharma, Regional Project Officer
Consumers International Office for Asia Pacific
and the Middle East
Consumers International’s priorities for 2013
Food Safety
1. Reducing the use of antibiotics in the food chain
2. Consumer representation at Codex Alimentarius
3. Safe use of pesticides in food production
Helping consumers to choose healthy diets
4. Support WHO action plan to reduce NCDs.
5. Support members work on nutrition labelling, food
marketing to children and reduction of fat, sugar and
salt in food.
Fundraising to support the food programme
6. Evaluating and strengthening food safety systems
1. Reducing the use of antibiotics in the food chain
Background
• Antibiotics are used in farming for growth promotion or
to prevent disease (particularly in large scale industrial
farming).
• However this non essential use of antibiotics in farming
contributes to anti biotic resistance (ABR) in the food
chain and is recognised as an increasingly serious
public health risk.
• In tests by CI members and others (in the US, EU and
Asia) a large proportion of meat was found to contain
ESBLs indicating ABR.
Reducing the use of antibiotics in the food chain
Plans for 2013
• In consultation with members develop evidence based
recommendations for international and national action,
including where relevant WHO, FAO and national
governments.
• Launch in preparation for the WHO international day to
highlight the dangers of anti-biotic resistance (November
2013)
• Provide clear recommendations that CI members can use
in their national lobbying.
2. Consumer representation in Codex Alimentarius
Background
• Codex Alimentarius is the international standard setting
body for food safety. Codex standards are the only food
standards that can be referenced in WTO disputes.
• CI is represented on Codex committees by CI members that
are able to attend at their own cost. CI facilitates and coordinates their participation.
Plans for 2013
• Where necessary, increase CI effectiveness by asking CI
members to lobby national delegations on key issues.
3. Safe use of pesticides in food production
Background
• The inappropriate sale and use of pesticides in low and
middle income countries damages human and
envrionmental health and impedes economic development.
• The solution includes better implementation of existing
codes ; and increased local consumer demand for safer,
more sustainably produced food
Plans for 2013
• Develop a campaign guide for members
• Provide Green Action Fund grants to members wishing to
raise awareness or lobby on this issue.
• Share information about members work to increase
awareness about the issue within CI membership.
Helping consumers choose a healthy diet
Background
• It is becoming harder for consumers to choose a healthy
diet. Increased consumption of processed food, means
that levels of fat, sugar and salt in the diet are rising and
dietary related NCDs are rising rapidly.
Plans for 2013
4. Support the passing of the WHO action plan on non
communicable diseases and lobby governments to
implement the recommendations contained within it.
through lobbying and coordinated national advocacy..
Helping consumers choose a healthy diet
Plans for 2013
5. Support members national campaigns for policies such
as effective nutrition labelling, restrictions on the
marketing of food to children and the reformulation of
food to reduce fat, sugar and salt through:
• an online or street survey to illustrate the need for
better labelling.
• Providing a library of tools (such as how to guides,
model regulations etc).
• Work with international experts to consider whether
other international instruments can be used to promote
action on nutrition and obesity.
CI will seek support for CI and our members
work on food safety and nutrition.
In addition to supporting the work outlined above CI will
seek support for:
6. Strengthening national food safety systems
• Evaluate and lobby for improvements in national food
safety systems.
APME Office 2012 - 2013
• GIZ : Food safety : 2 projects
• Workshop on Strategies for Improved Food
Safety in Southeast Asia on 5-6 November
2012 at Bangkok
• Assessing food control measure in 4 countries
of Asia comprising of Cambodia, Lao PDR,
Myanmar, Bangladesh
Thank you
satya@ciroap.org