By Cheri Tips - Executive Director - National Health Federation (NHF)

Thursday, May 10th, 2007
 

Note - The NHF had two important objectives in this Ottawa meeting - (1)  keeping Genetically-Modified (GM) foods labeled as such, word-wide, and (2) insuring that foods could make health claims.  Despite fierce opposition they accomplished both objectives. - Tim Bolen

The National Health Federation (NHF) has International Nongovernmental Organization (INGO) observer status at all Codex Alimentarius meetings and represents the interests of health-conscious consumers.  There were numerous countries and other INGOs present, interested in various matters from labeling of genetically-modified foods to the labeling of organic foods. Importantly, too, the subject of the FAO/WHO's Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity, and Health was discussed. 

The WHO Global Strategy

On the opening day (April 30th) of the 35th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling here in Ottawa, Canada, Dr. Margaret Cheney of the World Health Organization discussed, among other things, the amendment of the Purpose of the Guidelines to allow the addition onto food labels of information that would inform consumers as to which foods could help protect them from noncommunicable diseases. If accepted by the Committee, this proposal would be a major victory for the rights of consumers to be informed about certain beneficial health information. 

At Codex meetings, country members always get to speak first and they did so with Mauritania, Costa Rica, and Canada speaking up in favor of the FAO/WHO proposal. But, Korea, Mexico, Malaysia, Germany, Brazil, Thailand, Switzerland, Indonesia, and of course the United States spoke up against the proposed language.

Scott Tips, the NHF delegate, timed his remarks so as to have the last word and the NHF was the only INGO delegation to speak out on this issue.  Mr. Tips said, "I am very surprised at the opposition shown here today to the well-thought out proposal of the FAC and WHO to amend the Purpose of the Guidelines so as to allow consumers to benefit from health information that could protect them from communicable diseases.  I can only say that perhaps some here are influenced by pharmaceutical interests that have a vested interest in a system that has failed for many years to cure noncommunicable diseases.  If anything, the Committee should amend the Purpose of the Guidelines to also allow consumers to receive health information on communicable diseases as well, since it is well-documented that, for example, adequate selenium intake will significantly! reduce the risk of HIV infection and adequate intake of Vitamin D will greatly reduce the risk of suffering from the flu virus."