The Western Pacific Regional Food Safety Strategy 2011-2015 has contributed to good progress in food safety across the Western Pacific Region. However more than 125 million people fall ill and more than 50 000 die annually from unsafe food in the Region. Food safety is a highly complex health issue involving multiple domestic and international stakeholders. Over recent years new developments including the introduction of new technologies increasing internationalization of the food chain and demographic changes have affected food safety in the Region. The changing context of food safety affects food safety risk management as well as trust in the safety of the food supply. Food safety trust is a multifaceted issue and an outcome of effective food safety systems. At the same time it serves as an enabler for strengthening food safety systems to manage food safety risks and respond to food safety incidents and emergencies. The Regional Framework for Action on Food Safety in the Western Pacific builds on the achievement and lessons learnt from the 2011-2015 Strategy. It acknowledges the changing context of food safety and revisits the approach for strengthening national food safety systems. This includes a stronger focus on building trust and confidence in food safety systems and implementing strategic actions that create leadership partnerships competency and resources that are the necessary enablers for advancing food safety systems. The Framework provides guidance on strategic action and a stepwise approach to strengthen food safety systems to better manage food safety risks and respond to food safety incidents and emergencies. It is intended to guide national food safety authorities in implementation of strategic action to strengthen national food safety systems as well as to obtain and advocate for high-level political support to enhance food safety. It is also intended to facilitate regional cooperation among food safety authorities.

Environmental determinants of health are responsible for more than a quarter of the burden of disease in the Western Pacific Region. Communicable and noncommunicable disease disability and death result from a lack of safe water and sanitation indoor and outdoor air pollution hazardous chemicals occupational hazards and climate-related disasters. The Western Pacific Regional Framework for Action on Health and Environment on a Changing Planet intends to relaunch the World Health Organization (WHO) s Health and the Environment programme and fulfil its mandate in the area of environmental health. It proposes to leverage the health sector focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) process providing guidance for prioritizing the work of WHO in support of Member States improving health outcomes through action on environmental determinants. It articulates entry points for health and environment priority actions in WHO country cooperation strategies the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other mechanisms for international collaboration and notably with the United Nations Environment Programme and ministries of environment. The framework also sets a course for the health sector to advocate adaptive measures policies and action to protect health and well-being as a co-benefit of interventions in energy agriculture transport housing and other spheres.

This report strengthens the economic case for increased public investment and more robust policy attention to food safety in low and middle income countries and provides guidance on ways to achieve significant, broad-based impact from such actions.

The new WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030 was adopted by the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly in 2022. The updated strategy addresses current and emerging challenges, incorporates new technologies and includes innovative approaches for strengthening food safety systems. The target audience includes policy-makers (national and subnational governments), technical authorities/agencies responsible for food safety, academia, food business operators (FBOs) and private sectors, consumers, civil societies, UN agencies and WHO staff. This new document was prepared with support from the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Food Safety: Safer food for better health. It reflects feedback received through consultation process with Member States and governmental institutions, United Nations agencies and other intergovernmental organizations, academia, NGOs, private sector entities, and individuals working in public health and food safety. The vision of the draft strategy is to ensure that all people, everywhere, consume safe and healthy food to reduce the burden of foodborne diseases. With five interlinked and mutually supportive strategic priorities, the draft strategy aims to build forward-looking, evidence-based, people-centred, and cost-effective food safety systems with coordinated governance and adequate infrastructures. This strategy contributes to the achievement of the SDGs and will be reviewed in 2030 when the world will reflect upon the progress made towards the SDGs.