pr220104

World Health Organisation Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health

Health Ministers must talk to Farmers

Geneva, 22 January 2004 – Following the discussion at the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Executive Board meeting on a draft Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, farmers called for the opening of immediate, intensive discussions with Ministers of Health in each country. Health Ministers are actually choosing the wrong strategy.

IFAP’s farmers oppose the WHO idea of “good food” versus “bad food” and think that every food plays a role in a balanced, healthy diet. “WHO is wrong to lead governments to look at fats and sugars in the same way as tobacco,” said the Secretary General of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), Mr. David King, while attending the WHO Executive Board held in Geneva 19 to 23 January. “Advertising bans, and taxes on food, as proposed in this strategy, are not the way to treat problems of obesity and lack of physical exercise” also claimed Mr. King.

“Countries and individuals are very different in the way that they live and in the way that they compose their diets. One worldwide diet model is not appropriate. We support the drawing up of food-based dietary guidelines, with these guidelines being developed in specific socio-cultural contexts reflecting national health issues. Also, WHO needs to give attention in its Strategy to problems of nutrient deficiency and malnutrition that are currently ignored in the text. The malnutrition is as much a health problem as obesity.”

Farmer representatives recognise that in many countries, unbalanced diets and lack of physical activity is a growing health problem. However, there is little sound scientific evidence for the WHO strategy, but rather it is based on the views of a particular expert group of WHO. For farmers, it is essential that health policy be based on sound scientific evidence, and on an open dialogue with farmers’ organisations and other involved stakeholders.

Farmers have until the end of February 2004 to give their views on the draft Global Strategy to their Health Minister. After that time the final version of the Strategy will be prepared for adoption at the World Health Assembly in May 2004. The worldwide consequences of this strategy, if adopted, will be substantial.

Julie Emond

Communications Coordinator

E-mail: julie.emond@ifap.org

Phone:+33 1 45 26 05 53 Fax: +33 1 48 74 72 12

IFAP is the world farmers’ organisation representing over 500 million farm families grouped in 100 national organisations in 70 countries.

It is a global network in which farmers from industrialised and developing countries exchange concerns and set common priorities.

IFAP advocates farmers’ interests at the international level since 1946 and has General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.