FAO/SPC/UNICEF/WHO/PIFS 12 May 2009

A Pacific Food Summit 2010:

Facilitati! Actio fo" a Food S#cu"# Pacific
A food $#cu"# Pacific
Globally, we are being exposed to increasing food prices, fuel price upheavals, unstable
economic conditions and climate change which are affecting availability and access to sufficient,
safe and nutritious food.
Pacific Island countries and Territories (PICTs in particular are being adversely affected. These
global influences are increasing food prices, exacerbating an already heavy reliance on imported
and processed foods and contributing to the loss of local harvesting, production and cultural
!nowledge. In addition, they also create uncertainty around food supply. "s a conse#uence,
Pacific populations are at greater ris! of malnutrition, foodborne diseases and non$communicable
disease (%C&.
These challenges demand a coordinated and multi$sectoral response, involving public$private
partnerships, if food security is to be achieved in the Pacific. 'uch a response also provides a
uni#ue opportunity to address malnutrition, foodborne diseases and %C&s simultaneously.
(icronutrient deficiencies can be reduced through consumption of traditional staples and
fortification, food safety standards can protect Pacific populations from foodborne diseases and
food and advertising standards can reduce the amount of fat, sugar and salt consumed, lowering
the ris! of %C&s. "ddressing multiple health outcomes through the modification of a common ris!
factor becomes increasingly important for developing nations as they progress through the
nutrition transition. It will also strengthen Pacific economies and shield against future food crises.
Pu%lic &#alt& ad t"ad# coc#"$ t&at "#'ui"# a Pacific Food Summit 2010
1( Food $u))ly ad $#cu"ity i t&# Pacific
)ood security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to
sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active
and healthy life. )ood security is multi$dimensional, ta!ing into account food availability (sufficient
#uantities, appropriate #uality, access (ade#uate resources for ac#uiring appropriate foods for a
nutritious diet, stability (no ris! of losing access to food as a conse#uence of events such as
economic or climatic crisis and utili*ation (essential non$food factors such as clean water,
sanitation and health care.
)ood security in the Pacific, as elsewhere, is facing new challenges as global mar!ets experience
dramatic increases in food prices. The )"+ index of food prices rose by ,- in .//0, by .1- in
.//2 and by 34- in the first months of .//5. The increase has affected nearly all food
commodities, to different degrees. )"+ forecast that the world would spend more than ./- more
on food imports in .//5 than in .//2. ()"+, )ood +utloo!, (ay .//5 This will severely strain the
budgets of low$income food$deficit countries that are li!ely to see their import bills soar by more
than 1/- in .//,. Pro6ections suggest that food prices are li!ely to remain high in the next few
years.
PICTs are particularly vulnerable as they tend to be net staple food importers. Perhaps most
stri!ing is their heavy dependence on imported cereals as a source of dietary energy and protein.
7emar!ably, rice and flour have now replaced root crops as the single most important source of
starch and energy in Pacific Island Countries. "ll PICTs, apart from )i6i, P%G and 'olomon
Islands, rely exclusively on cereal imports, indicating their high vulnerability and dependency.
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"nother indicator of vulnerability is the high food import bill, which is increasing as a proportion of
total export earnings. This indicator provides a measure of capacity to import food and in many
countries it is declining. In some, eg Tuvalu, 'amoa, 8iribati and the Coo! Islands, the value of
food imports has exceeded that of total exports.
)ood security is further impacted by the volatility in the global price of oil, and as this region is a
net importer of oil, this has had a significant impact on local food production costs as well as
transport costs for imported food. The combined impact of these factors has mar!edly increased
the vulnerability of these island communities.
The ris! to food security in the Pacific has been recogni*ed at the highest political level. "t the
recent Thirty$%inth Pacific Islands )orum, held in %iue from 4,$./ "ugust .//5, )orum 9eaders
:ac!nowledged the high importance of food security as an emerging issue which poses
challenges for the future well being of people across the region; and :called on all countries to
maintain open mar!ets and, where possible, to increase the production and supply of healthy
food;. 9eaders :committed their governments to immediate action to address food security issues
nationally and where possible regionally through a range of measures across !ey sectors such as
agriculture, fisheries, trade and transport;
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2( Food 'uality ad t&# "#lat#d dou%l# di$#a$# %u"d#:
a( *&# %u"d# of NC+ i t&# Pacific ad food t"ad# , ma"-#ti!
The populations living in Pacific island countries and territories have some of the highest
prevalence of obesity and type . diabetes in the world (based on <=+ 'T>P' surveys,
overweight and obesity prevalence ranges from 12- $ ,?-@ in )i6i the number of people with
diabetes is expected to double to 2.,/// people affected by ./?/. &iets are low in vegetables
and fruit (A 1/- of students in )i6i (?3- females@ ?2- males, ate at least two servings of fruit per
day and only 33- ate at least two servings of vegetables
.
, lac!ing in essential nutrients, and are
vulnerable to changes in imported food supply brought about by food price and fuel related cost
increases.
The noncommunicable disease related issues have been a ma6or concern for the islandsB =ealth
(inisters for a number of years, as highlighted during their biennial meeting in Canuatu in .//2.
The (inisters notedD
"Most Pacific Island Countries do not have the capacity to deal with the NCD epidemic"
"Imported food and its effect on the health of Pacific Island People remain an issue for
Ministers. They requested that W! and "PC help them to facilitate # initiate
en$a$ement with the trade sector to ensure that the health impact of trade a$reements
on diet is minimi%ed"
In response to the (inistersE concerns, a )"+F<=+ (eeting on )ood 'tandards to Promote
=ealth and )air Trade in the Pacific was held in the <=+ 7egional +ffice for the <estern Pacific
in (anila, Philippines, from ? to 0 &ecember .//2. Prior to the meeting, Pacific leaders had
called for the sharing of scarce resources and alignment of policies in an attempt to meet the
serious challenges facing Pacific island countries. Thirty$four participants were drawn from 4?
countries of the Pacific and seven temporary advisers came from within and outside the 7egion.
The meeting recogni*ed that non communicable diseases arising from inappropriate and
unhealthy diets combined with insufficient physical activity are of ma6or public health concern in
the Pacific@ and proposed that food standards and trade agreements (including PICT", P"C>7
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19 - 20 AUGUST 2008, p.10
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and <T+ agreements in the Pacific should ta!e account of the urgent need to reduce the %C&
burden and, where possible, contribute to the prevention and control efforts of the Pacific
countries.
%( *&# %u"d# of mic"out"i#t d#fici#ci#$ i t&# Pacific ad food fo"tificatio
The same )"+F<=+ (eeting on )ood 'tandards to Promote =ealth and )air Trade in the
Pacific, expressed concern about the magnitude and conse#uences of micronutrient deficiencies
in the Pacific. The prevalence of anaemia is reported to be ./- or greater, in both children and
pregnant women, in 43 of 40 countries
?
. Iodine deficiency is thought to be a significant public
health problem in at least some Pacific islands nations. 'tudies show that in at least ? countries
()i6i, Papua %ew Guinea and Canuatu iodine deficiency and endemic goitre are prevalent. In
addition, in at least 1 countries (8iribati, (arshall Islands, )ederated 'tates of (icronesia and
P%G vitamin " deficiency constitutes a public health problem
?
. The (eeting of (inisters of
=ealth of the Pacific island countries, in Canuatu (.//2 recogni*ed that these micronutrient
deficiencies are public health issues in the Pacific island countries, identified a need for the
fortification of certain products in the Pacific and agreed that Pacific island countries should have
common standards for fortification as part of strategies to address these deficiencies. Common
standards for fortification of wheat flour and salt were proposed at the )"+F<=+ (eeting on
)ood 'tandards to Promote =ealth and )air Trade in the Pacific, in &ecember .//2.
c( Sy#"!i#$ i add"#$$i! NC+$ ad mic"out"i#t d#fici#ci#$
'trategies to address %C&s and micronutrient deficiencies can complement each other.
Introducing standards to reduce salt inta!e and change the type of salt consumed from non$
iodised to iodised would help reduce hypertension and iodine deficiency at the same time. >fforts
should be made to draw on existing policy and programmes and strategies promoting healthy
lifestyles. >xamples of existing programmes include the 8"%" pro6ect, to improve food #uality
and ensure balanced diets for students in boarding schools, particularly primary schools in rural
areas of )i6i, the G%IC>) bac!yard home garden and the HGo 9ocalH programme. Promotion of
breastfeeding is another strategy that helps prevent both %C&s and micronutrient deficiencies
and existing programmes include the <=+FG%IC>) EInfant and Ioung Child )eeding (IIC)
strategy and the Jaby )riendly =ospital Initiative (J)=I. Jreastfeeding has a critical role to play
in ma!ing food security a reality for children in the Pacific, as it provides total food security for
infants and children up to two years. In the face of rising food prices, fluctuating fuel prices and
unstable economic climates, breast mil! is readily available, affordable, a nutritious food source
and provide antibodies to protect children against infectious diseases. Jreast mil! continues to
provide the growing child with essential nutrients and energy, helping to prevent malnutrition and
micronutrient deficiencies in the second year of life and beyond, along with other foods.
.( Food $af#ty/ "#!ioal t"ad# facilitatio ad food $tada"d$ i t&# Pacific
Protecting human health and achieving economic growth by facilitating trade in safe and suitable
food in todayBs global food mar!et is an important challenge for all countries but particularly the
countries and territories of the Pacific. "griculture and fisheries are important engines of
economic growth in most PICTs, but increasingly strict food safety and #uality regulatory
re#uirements of developed country export mar!ets have been impediments to fully exploiting
potential mar!ets. 7ecent examples of food safety and #uality issues impacting on food trade in
the Pacific include cyanide in cassava, cadmium in taro, mercury, histamine and ciguatera in fish
and &scherichia coli in green leafy vegetables. )urthermore, food exports from PICTs have been
re6ected for reasons of inade#uate labeling. Poor grading and pac!aging standards are reducing
the #uality and value of food exports. (ost of these issues are related to inade#uate capacity to
ensure food safety and #uality along the food chain K from farm to for! K and wea! national food
control and monitoring systems (including food law and regulations, management structures,
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inspection and certification services, and laboratory services. Compliance with international food
safety and #uality standards is necessary not only to gain mar!et access for export commodities,
but also to supply the lucrative tourism industry within Pacific island countries, as well as for the
well$being of the local population. Controlling the safety of imported food is also an enormous
challenge for the small island states and areas of the Pacific. Consumers are often exposed to
food that is sold after its specified use$by date andFor has undergone temperature abuse before
or during distribution to the Pacific.
The )"+F<=+ (eeting on )ood 'tandards to Promote =ealth and )air Trade in the Pacific
identified that gaps in the food laws, regulations and standards of Pacific countries and areas
re#uire urgent national action to better promote health and fair trade@ it is important and
appropriate that countries wor! more closely with each other to consider a regional approach to
setting standards based on the guidance of Codex and )ood 'tandards "ustralia %ew Lealand@
and food safety measures should be based on sound scientific evidence and ris! analysis
principles and should not unnecessarily create barriers to trade. 7egionally coordinated action by
PICs to facilitate trade in safe and nutritious food has been recommended. The proposed
coordinated action to protect human health and facilitate trade in the global food mar!et by
addressing these goals on a regional basis is fundamental to a successful Pacific 7egional Trade
)acilitation Programme being coordinated by the Pacific Islands )orum 'ecretariat.
Si!ificac# of a Food Summit ad +#cla"atio
"ccess to sufficient, safe and nutritious food is a basic human right. It is impossible for =eads of
Government to ta!e action to address the current food crisis without giving due consideration to
the conse#uences of inade#uate, unhealthy and unsafe diets which has contributed to the burden
of food and nutrition related illnesses. >ach aspect of food is inextricably lin!ed and a plan of
action to address the food crisis must also address each of the other aspects. " Pacific
&eclaration on )ood 'ecurity provides the platform to do so. It recogni*es the need to address
food security, safety and nutritional #uality with a multi$sectoral approach, engaging not only
government sectors such as agriculture, trade and health, but also engaging industry from
primary producers to processors, importers and exporters and consumers and householders with
the capacity to grow and harvest food. " substantial amount of wor! has already been
underta!en to enhance food security, #uality and safety in the Pacific as well as to address the
dual burden of micronutrient deficiencies and %C&s and to facilitate trade within and with the
Pacific. =owever, a Pacific &eclaration on )ood 'ecurity draws this wor! together and builds on
it to provide a strong framewor! for protecting health in the Pacific and an accompanying
)ramewor! for "ction, a springboard for future coordinated action on these food and nutrition
related issues.
W&at 0ill t&# )"o)o$#d Pacific Food Summit 2010 loo- li-#1
The Pacific )ood 'ummit ./4/ will involve two !ey activities. The first is a meeting of high$level
officials (proposed for (arch, coming together for the first time on )ood 'ecurity, Muality, 'afety
and Trade. They will finali*e the Pacific &eclaration on )ood 'ecurity. The &eclaration will be
modeled on the C"7IC+( =eads of Government 'ummits on chronic %C&s and poverty and
food security. The second activity will be endorsement of the &eclaration by Pacific 9eaders at the
./4/ Pacific Islands )orum (eeting. =owever, the final form of the 'ummit and &eclaration will
be developed in consultation with the Pacific Islands )orum 'ecretariat, (ember 'tates, co$
sponsors and other partners.
Intended participants in the =igh 9evel +fficials meeting includeD
&ecision and policy ma!ers of PICTs@
7egional and international health, trade and agriculture organi*ations@ and
+ther potential partners.
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W&at 0ill t&# Food Summit ac&i#2#1
The )ood 'ummit will culminate in a Pacific +#cla"atio o Food S#cu"ity endorsed at the
highest level of government and supported by industries that supply and produce food. The
&eclaration and accompanying )ramewor! for "ction will include a clear set of strategies and
actions to address food security, #uality and safety in the Pacific.
Intended outcomesD
7ecognition and ac!nowledgement of the magnitude of the problems@
" commitment to addressing the issues (a signed &eclaration and )ramewor! for "ction@
Practical and achievable strategies for the assurance of food and nutrition security, for the
prevention of %C&s and micronutrient deficiencies@ and for facilitating trade in and
mar!eting of safe and nutritious food@
" collective approach for accelerating the management and control of these issues@ and
7esources identified for implementing strategies through increasing budgetary
allocations@ a commitment from development ban!s and other potential partners@ andFor
more private sector investment.
The &eclaration aims toD
(4 "ssure food security in the Pacific@
(. 7educe diet$related non$communicable diseases (%C&s and micronutrient
deficiencies in the Pacific and@
92: )acilitate trade in and mar!eting of safe and nutritious food.
"ccompanying the declaration will be a F"am#0o"- fo" Actio 0it& t&# follo0i! $t"at#!i#$D
4. Improve )ood 'ecurity and 9ivelihoods through enhanced and sustainable production,
processing and trading of safe and nutritious food in Pacific Island Countries
.. " Common Pacific Island 7egulatory "pproach to )ood 9egislation, including
'tandards to Promote Trade and =ealth
?. Industry "dding =ealth Calue in the Production, Processing, (ar!eting and
&istribution of )ood in the Pacific
1. >ffective and Consistent >nforcement of )ood 'tandards across the Pacific
3. 'trengthen food and nutrition monitoring capacity in PICTs to ensure timely availability of
reliable and relevant information on all aspects of food and nutrition
0. 'trengthened leadership, regional cooperation and funding on food security in the Pacific
W&at $t#)$ &a2# %## ta-# $o fa" to0a"d t&# Food Summit1
The 'ummit builds on a range of coordinated lead$up activities that have bought recognition to
issues and laid the foundation.
4. Government, %G+ and Industry (eetings
4. The (eeting of Mii$t#"$ of H#alt&/ &#ld i Po"t 3ila/ 3auatu, in .//2 identified the need
to apply a :whole$of$society; approach to %C& prevention and control@ identified the need for
a regional approach to food fortification@ and called for a )ood 'ummit with representatives
from =ealth, "griculture, Trade and )inance.
;
.. The <orld Jan! conducted a meeting on The Impact of Global +il and )ood Price Increases
on the Pacific 7egion and Possible (itigation (easures, 44 Nuly .//5, 'ydney, "ustralia
?. The .9t& Pacific I$lad Fo"um 4#ad#"$5 m##ti! 19 Au!u$t 2006, %iue recogni*ed food
security as an issue of increasing importance and called on all countries to maintain open
mar!ets and, where possible, to increase the production and supply of healthy food.
1. The G%&") "lignment (eeting discussed food 'ecurity issues, .5$., "ugust .//5, 'amoa
3. The ?rd 7egional (eeting of =eads of "griculture and )orestry 'ervices and .nd 7egional
Conference of (inisters of "griculture and )orestry discussed food security issues, ?$,
'eptember .//5, "pia, 'amoa and called on 'PC 9and 7esources &ivision to strengthen
lin!ages with all relevant nutrition and health agencies, to encourage the consumption and
production of local foods, especially targeting children and youth
0. "nnual 7oundtable (eeting on <T+ and 7egional Trade "greements and Provisions
discussed soaring food prices, 43$4, 'eptember .//5, <ellington %L
2. )"+ conducted a 'ta!eholdersE Co$ultati2# Wo"-$&o) o St"#!t&#i! Pa"t#"$&i)$
i Food S#cu"ity ad Su$taia%l# 4i2#li&ood$ in Pacific Island Countries, ..$.1
'eptember .//5, %adi, )i6i
5. The (eeting of Pacific Food Saf#ty ad 7uality 4#!i$latio E8)#"t 9"ou), 'ydney,
"ustralia, ?$1 %ov .//5, organi*ed by <=+ and )"+ identified how to adopt Codex
standards in the Pacific, and established a mechanism for sharing of information and
expertise among Pacific island countries on the development and harmoni*ation of food
standards
,. " meeting on im)"o2i! food $u))ly to "#duc# NC+ "i$- facto"$ i t&# Pacific was
conducted in 'ydney, "ustralia, 1 %ov .//5, organi*ed by <=+ in collaboration with )"+
and the 'PC, achieved consensus among policy ma!ers and %C& prevention and control
professionals on regulatory approaches to reducing %C& ris! factors in the Pacific.
4/. "n Idu$t"y +ialo!u# M##ti!, organi*ed by the Global =ealth Institute (in association with
<=+ and others, was conducted in 'ydney, "ustralia, 3$2 %ov .//5 to establish a dialogue
with industry on opportunities and challenges associated with trade and health in Pacific.
.. >stablishing Co$'ponsors
FAO/ WHO/ UNICEF ad SPC met in %adi, )i6i, in 'eptember .//5@ and )"+, <=+ and 'PC
met in 'ydney, "ustralia, in %ovember .//5. Proposed leadership by each of the +rgani*ations
(both technically and resource$wise in partnership with a champion country was agreed.
)ood 'ecurity $ )"+F'PC
)ood 'afety $ <=+F)"+
)ood Muality O )ortification $ G%IC>)F<=+
)ood Muality O %C& $ <=+F'PC
?. +ther Partners
Global =ealth Institute (G=I, 'ydney
<=+ and G%IC>) provided supporting documents to G=I to enable it to obtain "G& 3// ///
funding from "us"I& to move towards the Pacific )ood 'ummit. G=I will be a !ey partner in
efforts to address particularly micronutrient deficiencies in the Pacific.
"sia &evelopment Jan! ("&J
"&J is interested in partnering in the 'ummit. Their commitment to date is to advise on and
support developments in monitoring the impact of the food crisis on Pacific island populations. %o
funds have been committed.
<
1. )ood 'ecure Pacific ()'P <or!ing Group
" )"+FPI)'F'PCFG%IC>)F<=+ <or!ing Group has been established to facilitate action on this
initiative. Contact Colin Jell (bellaPwho.int for further information.
Im)l#m#ti! ad %uildi! o t&# Pacific +#cla"atio o Food S#cu"ity
The lead up to the )ood 'ummit will include several national food summits where countries can
draw together government departments, food industry, importers and traders and agencies and
groups that are interested in or have an impact on food security to identify and discuss strategies
that will improve food security nationally and regionally. It will also advocating for multi$ministerial
commitment and this initiative will be discussed at !ey ministerial and leaders meetings.
The Pacific &eclaration on )ood 'ecurity will provide a regional set of regulations and standards
that will not only help to achieve the aims stated above but also facilitate compliance by Industry.
"t the Industry &ialogue (eeting, 'ydney, "ustralia, 3$2 %ov .//5, Industry representatives
called for transparent and consistent regulationsFstandards across the 7egion. The &eclaration
will also serve as a foundation around which Pacific Island Countries can build their own national
standards and regulations. The impact of the &eclaration can be enhanced further by informing
and educating populations (consumers on how best to ta!e advantage of the changes that the
&eclaration introduces (eg how to read food labels, how to determine which products are low fat.
To these ends, the Co$sponsors will provide further support and technical expertise to countries
after the Pacific )ood 'ummit, inD
4. social mar!eting@
.. facilitating the development and implementation of national standards@
?. reaching agreements with industry@ and
1. monitoring and compliance procedures.

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