The Regional Office for the Western Pacific of the World Health Organization (WHO) under the United Nations (UN) recently recognized the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) as the Philippine government’s designated national institution to participate in the work of the WHO Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS), particularly on the Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Programme (CMAP).
The recognition stemmed from a communication sent to the Philippine government through the Department of Health by Dr. Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, proposing FNRI’s membership to the GEMS Food Network.
Furnished with the WHO’s letter is Dr. Ruby J. Apilado, Senior Science Research Specialist of the FNRI’s Food Research Development Group, who is the officer-in- charge of the Food Quality and Safety Section.
Upon acceptance of the proposal through channels, the WHO now officially recognizes the FNRI as a participant in the GEMS Food Network for a year, subject to tacit renewal before the end of each year.
As a member of the GEMS Food Network, also referred to as “GEMS/Food” by the WHO, the FNRI is expected to share updated data and information on food cluster diets, food consumption areas, short-term diets, total diet studies, publications and other related research outputs.
The National GEMS Food Centers (NGCs) are national institutions designated by national authorities and recognized by the WHO for participating in the work of GEMS-CMAP.
Since 1976, the GEMS/Food has informed governments, the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other relevant institutions, as well as the public, on the levels and trends of chemical contaminants in food and their contribution to dietary exposure.
The Codex Alimentarius, a Latin word which means “food law” or “code” is the result of the Commission’s work: a collection of internationally adopted food standards, guidelines, codes of practice and other recommendations, according to the FAO-WHO website on the codex.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission is an intergovernmental body with over 180 members, within the framework of the Joint Food Standards Programme established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The purpose is to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in food trade, the website further disclosed.
The Commission, which publishes the codex, also promotes coordination of all food standards works undertaken by international governmental and non-governmnetal organizations.
According to the WHO, one of the three GEMS/Food main areas of activity is data collection for hazard occurrence, food composition and food consumption and sharing of information for accurate international risk assessment.
The second main area of activity of GEMS/Food involves training and capacity building at national and regional levels for chemical exposure assessment based on Total Diet Studies, the WHO added.
The WHO also underscored the third GEMS/Food main area of activity concerning development and dissemination of guidelines and recommendations for exposure assessment methodologies.
The list of GEMS/Food collaborating institutions updated in December 18, 2012 includes the Philippines under the Western Pacific Regional Office, with the FNRI as the designated National GEMS/Food Centre (NGC) of Manila recognized by the WHO.
Another NGC of the Philippines recognized by the WHO is the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health (FDA-DOH).
In the country assignments to the 13 proposed GEMS/Food Consumption Cluster Diets, the Philippines is listed under Cluster L, with 12 other Asian and Western Pacific countries.
It can be recalled that the FNRI was once recognized as an affiliate institution of the United Nations University (UNU) in the mid-1990s.
Membership in the GEMS/Food of the WHO and other related international affiliations only re-affirms FNRI’s respectable status in food and nutrition research and development not only in the country but also in organized global initiatives.
For more information on food and nutrition, contact Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, FNRI Director, DOST Compound, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; 837-2934 & 839-1839 (direct lines); 837-3164 (fax); This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (email); www.fnri.dost.gov.ph (website).
