International Organizations Responsible for Nutrition and Health
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
The Food and Agriculture Organization was founded in 1945 to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living, to improve agricultural productivity and to better the condition of rural peoples. It is the largest autonomous agency in the United Nations with 180 member countries plus the European Commission, a member community.
Since its inception, FAO has worked to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development, improved nutrition and the pursuit of food security—the access of all people at all times to the food they need for an active and healthy life. The organization offers direct development assistance and analyses; disseminates information, provides policy and planning advice to governments; and, acts as an international forum for debate on food and agriculture issues.
Contact details:
John Riddle
Media Office
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome
Italy
011 39 06 570 53259
011 39 06 570 53699 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.fao.org
The World Health Organization (WHO)
Founded in 1948, the World Health Organization leads the world alliance for Health for All.A specialized agency of the United Nations with 191 member states, WHO promotes technical cooperation for health among nations, carries out programs to control and eradicate disease and strives to improve the quality of human life.
WHO has four main functions:
- Providing world guidance in the field of health
- Setting global standards for health
- Cooperating with governments in strengthening national health programs
- Developing and transferring appropriate health technology, information and standards
Contact details:
Press Office
World Health Organization (WHO)
20 Av. Appia
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
011 41 22 791 2599
011 41 22 791 4858 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.who.int
Codex Alimentarius Commission
This is a joint FAO/WHO commission, established by the United Nations in 1962 to develop Codex Alimentarius, a code of food standards for all nations to guide the world’s growing food industry and to protect the health of consumers.
The stated purpose of Codex Alimentarius is “to guide and promote the elaboration and establishment of definitions and requirements for foods, to assist their harmonization and, in doing so, to facilitate international trade.”
Subsidiary bodies of the Codex Alimentarius Commission include:
- Worldwide general subject committees (on food additives and contaminants, pesticide residues, food labeling, food hygiene etc.)
- Commodity committees (sugars, fats and oils, vegetable proteins, meat hygiene etc.)
- Regional coordinating committees
The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) supports international harmonization in food, based on standards that are set by Codex.GATT is now incorporated in the World Trade Organization (WTO).Codex standards are recognized under WTO as the international standards of reference, but are not mandatory if countries consistently apply stricter standards.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission is headquartered in FAO premises in Rome. Codex has a U.S. office at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service in Washington, DC.
Contact Details—United States:
Dr. F. Edward Scarbrough
U.S. Department of Agriculture/FSIS
U.S. Codex Office
1400 Independence Ave, SW
Room 4861 - South Building
Washington, DC 20250-3700
202/205 7760
202/720 3157 fax
E-mail contact or
Alternate e-mail contact
Contact Details—Italy:
Food Standards Officer
Codex Alimentarius Commission
Secretariat of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Program
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome
Italy
011 39 06 570 52042
011 39 06 570 54593 fax
E-mail contact
World Trade Organization (WTO)
Created in 1995, the World Trade Organization evolved from the earlier General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Whereas GATT dealt only with trade in goods, the WTO agreements now cover services and intellectual property as well. The WTO replaced GATT, which has been amended and incorporated into the new WTO agreements. WTO is the only international body dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, the legal ground rules for international commerce and for trade policy.
The agreements have three main objectives:
- Helping trade flow as freely as possible
- Achieving further liberalization gradually through negotiation
- Setting up an impartial means of settling disputes
To achieve these objectives, the WTO pursues six main functions:
- Administering WTO trade agreements
- Providing a forum for trade negotiations
- Handling trade disputes
- Monitoring national trade policies
- Providing technical assistance and training for developing countries
- Cooperating with other international organizations
The WTO recognizes Codex Alimentarius Commission standards as the international standards of reference for food. WTO is located in Geneva, Switzerland and has 138 member countries, as of September 2000.
Contact details:
Keith Rockwell, Director of Information & Media Relations
World Trade Organization
Rue de Lausanne 154
1211 Geneva 21
Switzerland
011 41 22 739 5015
011 41 22 739 5458 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.wto.org
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS)
USDA/FAS serves U.S. agriculture’s international interests by expanding export opportunities for U.S. agricultural, fish and forest products and by promoting world food security. It also collects, analyzes and disseminates information about global supply and demand, trade trends and emerging market opportunities.
USDA/FAS seeks to improve market access for U.S. products, and implements programs designed to build new markets and to maintain the competitive edge of U.S. products in the global marketplace. USDA/FAS also carries out food aid programs, provides market-related technical assistance, and operates a variety of Congressionally mandated import and export programs.
USDA/FAS operates worldwide, with personnel located in more than eighty posts covering one hundred countries.
Contact Details:
Maureen Quinn, Director of Information
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
Agstop 1004
1400 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20050-1004
202/720 7115
202/720 1727 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.fas.usda.gov
U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA)
The U.S. Department of Commerce was established in 1903 to promote American business and trade. The department’s overarching mandate is to work with the business community to foster economic growth, and to create new American jobs. Within the Department of Commerce, the International Trade Administration is dedicated to helping U.S. businesses compete in the global marketplace by:
- Assisting U.S. exports
- Assuring that U.S. businesses have equal access to foreign markets
- Enabling U.S. businesses to compete against unfairly traded imports
The four principal units of the ITA are:
- Commercial Service—provides business counseling to exporters
- Trade Development—provides information for U.S. exporters, policy makers, and trade negotiators by industry sector specialists
- Market Access and Compliance—country experts provide market analysis to U.S. business
- Import Administration—safeguards the American economy from unfairly priced imports
Contact Details:
Curt Cultice
Public Affairs Officer
Room 3414
U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA)
14th and Constitution Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20230
202/482 3808
202/482 5819 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.ita.doc.gov
Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)
The Office of the U.S. Trade representative is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity and direct investment policy, and leading or directing negotiations with other countries on such matters.Through an interagency structure, the USTR coordinates trade policy, resolves agency disagreements and frames issues for Presidential decision.
The agency has offices in Washington, DC and Geneva, Switzerland.
Contact details:
Press Officer
Office of Public and Media Affairs
United States Trade Representative
Room 103
600 17th St, NW
Washington, DC 20508
202/395 3230
202/395 7226 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.ustr.gov
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
USAID is the independent government agency that provides economic development and humanitarian assistance to advance U.S. economic and political interests overseas.
USAID’s history goes back to the Marshall Plan reconstruction of Europe after World War Two and the Truman Administration’s Point Four Program.In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed the Foreign Assistance Act into law and created by executive order USAID.
Since that time, USAID has been the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms.
USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. The agency works in six principal areas crucial to achieving both sustainable development and advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives, namely:
- Economic growth and agricultural development
- Population, health and nutrition
- Environment
- Democracy and governance
- Education and training
- Humanitarian assistance
The Agency provides assistance in four regions of the world:
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Asia and the Near East
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- Europe and Eurasia
Contact Details:
Michele King
Press Officer
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Information Center
Ronald Reagan Building
Washington, DC 20523-0016
202/712 4320
202/216 3034 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.info.usaid.gov
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Founded in 1946, UNICEF advocates and works for the protection of children’s rights, to help the young meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
UNICEF is the only organization of the United Nations dedicated exclusively to children. It works with other United Nations bodies, government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to lighten children’s loads through community-based services in primary health care, basic education, and safe water and sanitation, in over 140 developing countries.
The UNICEF Secretariat is headquartered in New York and carries out its work through more than 200 offices covering 160 countries. The organization has major facilities in Copenhagen (Supply Division), Geneva and Tokyo as well as a research center in Florence.
Contact Details:
Alfred Ironside
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF House (Media Section)
Division of Communications
3 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
212/ 326 7261
212/326 7768 fax
E-mail contact
U.S. State Department
The Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American Diplomacy, a mission based on the role of the Secretary of State as the President’s principal foreign policy advisor.
The foreign policy mission is conducted by approximately 22,000 employees in both the Civil Service and the Foreign Service including Foreign Service Nationals in the 162 countries where the United States is represented by Embassies and Consulates.
As an integral part of its many diplomatic and political responsibilities, the State Department also seeks to promote mutual understanding between the United States and other nations by conducting educational and cultural activities that include:
- Educational, Cultural Exchange and International Visitor programs
- Broadcasting through Voice of America, Radio and TV Marti (Cuba), WORLDNET television, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Asia Pacific Network
- Electronic and print information programs
- Information resource centers—over 100 electronically equipped centers for rapid delivery of information to foreign leaders in government, media and academia: also includes public access libraries in developing countries and foreign press centers in Washington, New York and Los Angeles, to assist resident and visiting foreign journalists
- International research and media monitoring to advise the President and foreign policy makers concerning foreign public opinion about the U.S. and its policies
Contact Details:
Press Office
Bureau of Public Affairs
U.S. Department of State
2201 C St, SW
Washington, DC 20520
202/647 2492
202/647 0244 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.state.gov
http://www.broadcast.com/events/usstate (admission to press briefings)
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb (press briefing text)
U.S. Department Of State, Travel Warnings and Consular Information Program
The U.S. State Department provides a regularly updated summary of key developments in countries around the world that might affect the safety of travelers to that region. Reports contain warnings on health risks, including food safety risks, where appropriate.
The information can be obtained on a country by country basis from the State Department’s website at: http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html.
World Bank
The mission of the World Bank is to alleviate poverty, malnutrition and human misery in developing nations while encouraging and supporting a transition to environmentally sustainable activities.
The World Bank’s many activities and programs include:
- Organizing conferences on global hunger, urban development, resource conservation and many related issues
- Commissioning and publishing environmentally and socially sustainable development (ESSD) studies, monographs and related publications on such issues as reducing poverty and hunger, biodiversity and agricultural intensification, bioengineering of crops, water supply, sanitation and environmental sustainability
Contact details:
Press Office
World Bank
1818 H S, NW
Washington, DC 20433
202/473 1800
202/522 2632 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.worldbank.org
International Policy Council on Agriculture Food and Trade (IPC)
The International Policy Council on Agriculture Food and Trade (IPC) is dedicated to developing and advocating policies that support an efficient and open global food system, so that production meets demand while supporting sound environmental standards.
The IPC was founded in 1987, as an independent group of leaders from 20 developed and developing countries, including formerly centrally planned countries. Members include influential leaders with extensive experience in farming, agribusiness, government and academia.
The IPC conveys its recommendations directly to policymakers through its personal contacts, and also publishes a variety of papers and studies on agriculture, food and trade.
Contact Details:
Jalene Bowersmith
Press Office
International Policy Council on Agriculture, Food and Trade
International Policy Council
1616 P St, NW, Ste 100
Washington, DC 20036
202/328 5056
202/328 5133 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.ipcaft.org
Additional Resources
Regional Organizations Providing Science-Based Information on Food Safety and Nutrition
Asian Food Information Centre (AFIC)
P.O. Box 140
Phrakanong Post Office
Bangkok 10110 Thailand
Contact:Ms. Georgina Cairns,
Executive Director
011 662 661 0568
011 662 661 0963 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.afic.org
Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC)
Level 2, Salvation Army Building, 2-4 Brisbane Avenue, Barton Act, 2600 Australia
Contact: Mr. Stephen Ellaway, Communications Coordinator
011 61 2 6273 1466
011 61 2 6273 1477 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.foodsciencebureau.com.au (Food Science Bureau)
Canadian Food Information Council (CFIC)
3800 Steeles Ave W, Ste 301A, Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada
L4L 4G9
Contact: Ms. Phyllis Tanaka,
Executive Director
905/265 9126
905/265 9372 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.cfic.ca
European Food Information Council (EUFIC)
19 rue Guimard, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium
Contact:Ms. Annette Jung,
Director General
011 322 506 8989
011 322 506 8980 fax
E-mail contact
http://www.eufic.org
http://www.coolfoodplanet.org
Japan Food Information Center (JFIC)
2-14-7 Hirakawa-cho, Chiyoda-ku, 102-0093 Tokyo, Japan
Contact: Mrs. Eiko Masaki, President
011 81 3 5216 3093
011 81 3 3288 3877 fax
E-mail contact
Latin American Food Information Council (CLIA)
Manuel Lopez Cotilla, 707, Col. del Valle, 03100 Mexico, D.F., Mexico
Contact: Ms. Rosario Aviles Sanchez, Executive Director; Ms. Laura Martinell, Program Director
011 525 543 1069
011 525 543 1069 fax
E-mail contact; E-mail alternate contact
http://www.clia.org.mx
New Zealand Nutrition Foundation (NZNF)
1 Summerhill Place, Private Bag 25 905, St. Heliers, Auckland, New Zealand
Contact: Ms. Bronwen Hannay, Chief Executive Officer
011 64 9 575 3419
011 64 9 575 2215 fax
E-mail contact or E-mail alternate contact
