17 October 2008
WHO and FAO Hold Seminar on Health Implications of Climate Change Impacts on Food Safety
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14 October 2008: The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the European Food Safety Authority held a seminar in Rome, Italy, in conjunction with the celebration of World Food Day (16 October), to discuss health implications of climate impacts on nutrition, food and water safety.

[…]

14 October 2008: The World Health Organization (WHO)
Regional Office for Europe, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and
the European Food Safety Authority held a seminar in Rome, Italy, in
conjunction with the celebration of World Food Day (16 October), to discuss
health implications of climate impacts on nutrition, food and water safety.

During the seminar, Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe, explained
that in light of the known health threats posed by climate change, the question
is deciding on the type of public health action required. He called for: strengthening
disease control and health protection; ensuring clean water and sanitation, as
well as safe and adequate food; increasing disease surveillance and response;
enhancing disaster preparedness; increasing health professionals’ awareness of
climate-related diseases; delivering accurate and timely information to
citizens; and advocating to other sectors reduced emissions that can benefit
health.
He underscored that urgent action will lead to greater benefits and
imply lesser costs. Ezzeddine Boutrif, Director of the Nutrition and Consumer
Protection Division of FAO, underlined the implications of climate change for
food production, security and safety, and nutrition. She stressed the need for:
proactive management based on an increasingly clear understanding of
climate-related impacts at all stages of the food chain; and strengthened
interdisciplinary approaches.
She highlighted the FAO’s EMPRES (Emergency
Prevention System for Transboundary Animals and Plant Pests and Diseases)
programme, which will enhance FAO’s capacity to collect and analyze
intelligence for the early detection of food safety problems and to develop
guidance for managing emerging risks. [WHO Europe Press
Release
]

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